The AJ that doesn't worry about it would knock Thompson out, I believe. I say as someone who appreciated Thompson for a long time and rooted for him to get breaks when I got hip to him. Hip like his wife's hip, which was unfortunately broken one night. But in a way, same as Wlad, early AJ would do Tony earlier than Wlad did and early Wlad would've done it earlier too. Giving Thompson a chance to baffle you and doing it when you're not exactly a brainiac for figuring out stylistic weirdos is the worst thing. Being impatient is actually what would help AJ. But a worried AJ will get worse and worse until Thompson knocked him late I think. Thompson is not a puncher, AJ is not a glass jaw, but Thompson is a smart decent puncher with range. Very possibly it's enough with a post Ruiz AJ. But you specified best for best and I'm not sure if that's even a definite for either. AJ changed, but isn't necessarily worse. Thompson late-started and may not even have been that good younger as past his physical prime.
I don't know if that was coherent or even my real opinion or a blatantly stated opinion. I'm effing tired as eff all, lads.
