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Boxing thread

Deano said:
People seem to think AJ needs to stick behind the jab and box Ruiz. I can't see any way that works. AJ is a pretty poor boxer, robotic and stiff, he needs to use his power and natural athleticism and KO him.
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I'm glad it's not just me that thinks that. I think a lot of people think he can keep Ruiz at distance if he does that as Ruiz's reach is nowhere near AJ's. I think Ruiz is too fast to let that happen and AJ isn't quick enough with his feet to not let Ruiz get closer. It would be interesting to see if AJ could use the body shots more as his power could really hurt Ruiz there.
 
Johnny75 said:
I'm glad it's not just me that thinks that. I think a lot of people think he can keep Ruiz at distance if he does that as Ruiz's reach is nowhere near AJ's. I think Ruiz is too fast to let that happen and AJ isn't quick enough with his feet to not let Ruiz get closer. It would be interesting to see if AJ could use the body shots more as his power could really hurt Ruiz there.
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Agreed, Ruiz hand speed is too good, he will get inside him if he tries to box like that.
 
AJ looks a stone lighter? That will help his mobility but may effect his power. I will be interested to see what he weighs in at. Ruiz weight is immaterial.
 
If he doesn't stick behind the jab, I can see Ruiz coming over the top and banging his temple again, they'll have worked on that in training after the effect in the first fight. Joshua's no Lennox Lewis , but he's got an amateur record that shouldn't be disregarded, and he showed against Parker he's capable of going 12 and winning with a comfortable points margin.

Having said that, Ruiz is no Joseph Parker either, he's busier, and there's that hand speed, which really comes into play once he's inside. When the first fight exploded, Ruiz didn't work his way into that space, Joshua stepped into it trying to finish Ruiz off, and ended up getting separated from his senses. If AJ doesn't get on his toes, and stands in front of Ruiz, he'll get tagged, and so will Ruiz, but the Ruiz camp know what hurts Joshua, which is not entirely reciprocal because Joshua pretty much hit Ruiz with the kitchen sink in the first fight, and he kept firing back.They know that like all smaller guys he's vulnerable to that uppercut that put him down, but you've got to let him inside to use it.

I think Joshua could be in trouble. I don't think his corner knew what to do about Ruiz in the first fight, and AJ certainly didn't. They've taken steps to correct that, brought in sparring partners who apparently know Ruiz style better than anyone to try and better prepare him, in contrast, Ruiz just needs to go online to study every minute of Joshuas entire pro career. He's prepared to walk through punches and he does something Joshuas other opponents have rarely done. When Joshua loads up, he fires back. Ruiz didn't, and isn't going to back off him and cover up the way other fighters have.

Joshua is saying he's not there to put on a show, he's there to win, which could be taken a few ways. Going for a lackluster points win, or a not worth sitting down destruction are both possibilities. He may want to send a message just as much as he wants the belts back. He may need to send a message.
 
Ruiz has put on over a stone since the first fight. Clearly enjoyed that title win.
 
Deutsch Wolf said:
Ruiz has put on over a stone since the first fight. Clearly enjoyed that title win.
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He lost a lot in the build up (Tyson even had a go at him for the weight loss). Seems he has been working hard on the eating for the last few weeks to get the weight back and then some
 
Predictions?

I’m saying 8th round Joshua KO
 
Either Ruiz catches AJ early or he tires and AJ wins late. Say round 10 or 11.
 
Took a £1 bet (big bet) with an office manager today, he’s got Joshua points and Ruiz Ko within 9 and I’ve got Joshua KO within 8 and Ruiz points
 
There's a lot of muscle in that extra weight, he looks leaner than the first fight, and hes still got that huge V when he gets his guns out. In the modern Heavyweight era, sub 17 stone at this level is pretty astonishing, but it was his fighting weight before he turned into Frank Bruno. I don't think Joshua can dance out of Ruiz range all night, even if he avoids his bombs he throws a lot of very fast leather, and I'm not convinced he'll try. If all the talk is more than just talk, and he's more than Frank Mk2 I think he'll look to finish this inside 7, decisively. Wound and then kill . Andy Ruiz however can derail that with one punch. And he knows it, and seems to have prepared for it. I think Ruiz has his number and he'll retain his belts, and it'll be shorter than the first. Hope I'm wrong.
 
Rui_CostCo said:
There's a lot of muscle in that extra weight, he looks leaner than the first fight, and hes still got that huge V when he gets his guns out. In the modern Heavyweight era, sub 17 stone at this level is pretty astonishing, but it was his fighting weight before he turned into Frank Bruno. I don't think Joshua can dance out of Ruiz range all night, even if he avoids his bombs he throws a lot of very fast leather, and I'm not convinced he'll try. If all the talk is more than just talk, and he's more than Frank Mk2 I think he'll look to finish this inside 7, decisively. Wound and then kill . Andy Ruiz however can derail that with one punch. And he knows it, and seems to have prepared for it. I think Ruiz has his number and he'll retain his belts, and it'll be shorter than the first. Hope I'm wrong.
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Have to say agree with this, by chance saw a rerun of the first fight yesterday and cant see how Joshua can reverse that.
 
Anyone else buying this? I’m tempted, but cba with the stream route. £25 seems a lot though.
 
My Local is showing it, I'm tempted to watch it there. Boxing in pubs isn't always a pleasant experience, but there's always the chance that if Joshua spends the night with his right hand stuck to the side of his head and he jabs his way to a boring points win there might at least be a more exciting brawl in the bar to make up for it.

There's a lot of talk of the money being involved being a major factor for taking the fight, that Joshua's astronomical purse was reliant on it happening with no interim warm ups. I've read anywhere between 60 and 85 million which even in the heady world of Heavyweight purses is a very large pay day. For everyone. I'm sure that brought with it a different set of pressures to the ones he's been slimming down for.

The smart money isn't exactly giving Joshua a confidence boost, no-ones giving much more than 50/50 chance in whats seen as a huge gamble, and he won't find one in the history books. Aiming to become only the third former HW Title holder to reclaim his Title in an immediate rematch is a tough enough challenge. Knowing that the only other fighters to achieve it in the last 40 years were the best 2 Heavyweights in boxing history, Ali and Lennox Lewis, gives Joshua some idea of the size of the mountain he is trying to climb.

I don't tend to get excited over Joshua fights, but this one's got me hooked. This isn't exactly last chance saloon for him, but he's knocking at the door in a sport he got into to get out of trouble. Andy Ruiz has spent his entire life working to get where he is today in the same sport. It might come down to who has the better plan, it might come down to who's mentally stronger and just wants it more.
Having slept on it, I still think Joshua has his work cut out avoiding getting hit with one of Ruiz bombs. Tyson Fury, a far better boxer than Joshua couldn't do it against Wilder, a far worse boxer than Ruiz. It's going to be a fascinating fight.
 
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