Who should be Joshua's next opponent?

[candyslim]

Silly me thinking that there might be something unethical going on in the Wonderful World of Boxing. Next I might suggest that politicians tell little fibs every now and then, even used car dealers! Ha ha silly me!

Exactly. All mentioned are fields that are a shining light of integrity and an inspiration to us all.

,

Fair enough, that fight sucked tho.

Not the most thrilling I'll grant you. Very competitive though.

[Enlightened-One]

It seems that Andy Ruiz Jr. is AJ's next opponent. I would have thought an announement such as this would have gained more media exposure than it did. It's almost as if the sports' journalists aren't really interested.

Here’s my prediction for the winners of every fight on the June 1st Joshua-Ruiz Jr. fight-card:

• Anthony Joshua
• Callum Smith
• Khalid Yafai
• Katie Taylor
• Austin Williams
• Kell Brook
• Joshua Buatsi
• Josh Kelly

[candyslim]

I don't suppose they are the only ones (who aren't really interested). Team Ortiz fukced up but there was still time to make that fight, surely. I can think of a lot worse opponents than Ruiz but Ortiz was the only one that would have prevented the replacement for Miller being a downgrade and something of a disappointment.

[Enlightened-One]

I don't suppose they are the only ones (who aren't really interested). Team Ortiz fukced up but there was still time to make that fight, surely. I can think of a lot worse opponents than Ruiz but Ortiz was the only one that would have prevented the replacement for Miller being a downgrade and something of a disappointment.

I probably would have done the same thing as Eddie Hearn.

Matchroom gave Team Ortiz a decent offer and instead of engaging in negotiations quietly, behind closed doors and in a confidential environment, like professionals should, they instead told the media that they received a “lowball” offer and then accused Anthony Joshua of “ducking”.

I actually think that Luis Ortiz was made aware of the precise details of the offer and then realised he made the wrong play, with his team subsequently agreeing to use the promoter as the scapegoat for the blame for their dodgy media shenanigans, because it’s essential for them to protect King Kong’s “fearsome” reputation.

Apparently, this isn’t the first time Luis Ortiz has rejected Matchroom’s offers (they turned down opportunities to face Dillian Whyte) and Eddie Hearn is very familiar with the Cuban, as he was his promoter for a couple of fights.

My allegations are based purely on speculation by the way, but fighters have to realise the consequences of rejecting huge life-changing financial offers to engage in career-defining bouts.

I’m guessing the Matchroom boss didn’t have time on his side to negotiate fights with difficult third-parties parties that use the media as some sort of bargaining chip, and so Eddie Hearn decided to move on.

To be fair, Matchroom submitted an attractive offer that was confidential, Team Ortiz disclosed its terms and made all sorts of derogatory accusations to the media, but it was only when Eddie Hearn threatened to expose their búllshít lies, that compelled Luis Ortiz’s handlers to concede their mistakes.

So I have no sympathy for Luis Ortiz, the Cuban will probably engage in the Wilder rematch and receive somewhere in the region of $500K to $1m to suffer another defeat.

[candyslim]

This is true he (Ortiz and/or his team) have been complete idiots but I imagine that if Eddie had given them a last chance, with a warning he'd turn to Ruiz if they weren't co-operative, then we might have got the fight we wanted.

I've just been watching the Kownacki v Kiladze fight. I tend to regard Kownacki and Ruiz as on a similar level and sharing certain physical attributes i.e. both carrying more timber than looks healthy, but watching that Kownacki fight I was struggling to see how he'd hear the bell to end round two if Joshua were in the other corner.

Since I regard Ruiz and Kownacki as equals it doesn't bode well.

[ewenhay]

Barry Hearn said that they had a list of five and that Joshua would have the final decision?

And he chose Ruiz?

[oogiebe]

Barry Hearn said that they had a list of five and that Joshua would have the final decision?

And he chose Ruiz?

Doesn't add up does it.

[ewenhay]

Doesn't add up does it.

Eddie Hearn said Joshua wanted Ortiz a week ago.

So either Ortiz wasn't on the final list of five due to the financial demands or someone called Hearn is speaking sh*te

[oogiebe]

Eddie Hearn said Joshua wanted Ortiz a week ago.

So either Ortiz wasn't on the final list of five due to the financial demands or someone called Hearn is speaking sh*te

It's all a load of crap and we'll never know the truth. Ortiz and his camp beg for the fight after fessing up but it still doesn't happen. I'm at my end.

[ewenhay]

It's all a load of crap and we'll never know the truth. Ortiz and his camp beg for the fight after fessing up but it still doesn't happen. I'm at my end.

Yeah. It's always the same with Hearn and Joshua fights. Months of boring talk about who it might be and how much they won't get paid.

Then when all is eventually revealed its Miller then Ruiz.

[ironbeard]

Let’s think back to Wilder v Fury post fight. The HW div was looking exciting for 2019. Tomorrow is May 1, and we have AJ v Ruiz, Wilder v Breazeale and Fury v Tom Schwarz.

[oogiebe]

Let’s think back to Wilder v Fury post fight. The HW div was looking exciting for 2019. Tomorrow is May 1, and we have AJ v Ruiz, Wilder v Breazeale and Fury v Tom Schwarz.

That's what makes it even more difficult to swallow. We got our hopes up that we'd finally be seeing so many great fights. Wilder vs Breazeale is the best of the big three, but Whyte vs Rivas is the most exciting/interesting matchup for me. Thank God we have Whyte. Can't believe I'm saying that.

[candyslim]

Let’s think back to Wilder v Fury post fight. The HW div was looking exciting for 2019. Tomorrow is May 1, and we have AJ v Ruiz, Wilder v Breazeale and Fury v Tom Schwarz.

Thanks for that Ironbeard. Anybody got a length of rope they aren't using? You can have it back when I'm done with it

[candyslim]

Ruiz didn't just struggle with (a bored and disinterested) Liakhovich. Liakhovich beat him, but they gave it to Ruiz to please all the Mexican fans in attendance.

Ilya: Out of curiosity I just watched that fight. Unless Liakhovich was really turning it on during those periods where my eyes refused to stay open, then he most emphatically did not win that fight. He was competitive and never looked in danger of failing to finish, but Ruiz was applying the pressure, landing the few shots worth mentioning, and generally controlling the fight.

That's 45 minutes of my life I'm not getting back so thanks for piquing my interest ... not

[Onetimeonly]

Never let that clown pique your interest. Abysmal performance but Andy clearly won.

[tiny_acres]

Ilya: Out of curiosity I just watched that fight. Unless Liakhovich was really turning it on during those periods where my eyes refused to stay open, then he most emphatically did not win that fight. He was competitive and never looked in danger of failing to finish, but Ruiz was applying the pressure, landing the few shots worth mentioning, and generally controlling the fight.

That's 45 minutes of my life I'm not getting back so thanks for piquing my interest ... not

X2
I don't see the controversy

[Fightnight Scores]

Here’s my prediction for the winners of every fight on the June 1st Joshua-Ruiz Jr. fight-card:

• Anthony Joshua
• Callum Smith
• Khalid Yafai
• Katie Taylor
• Austin Williams
• Kell Brook
• Joshua Buatsi
• Josh Kelly

You may just get as big a price as 1/5 for all of that as an accumulator bet!

[Onetimeonly]

You may just get as big a price as 1/5 for all of that as an accumulator bet!

Who is kell Brook fighting? Surprising they didn't mention it

[Fightnight Scores]

Who is kell Brook fighting? Surprising they didn't mention it

They are all TBAs apart from AJ, Yafai and Katie Taylor....

I'd be surprised if they all featured on the card.

[Thomastearns]

You may just get as little as 1/5 for all of that as an accumulator bet!

Eddie's not in the mood for taking too many chances. His nerves are probably already shot to pieces.

In fact the only one taking real chances seems to be a certain Mr D Whyte - I hope it doesn't backfire on him.

J Miller was taking different kind of chances, so he doesn't count.

[Enlightened-One]

I've just watched a video of Eddie Hearn claiming Luis Ortiz rejected a $7m offer to face AJ!

OMFG! The Cuban really did make a monumentally stupid mistake rejecting an offer like that!!!

[Ilya Muromets]

Ilya: Out of curiosity I just watched that fight. Unless Liakhovich was really turning it on during those periods where my eyes refused to stay open, then he most emphatically did not win that fight. He was competitive and never looked in danger of failing to finish, but Ruiz was applying the pressure, landing the few shots worth mentioning, and generally controlling the fight.

That's 45 minutes of my life I'm not getting back so thanks for piquing my interest ... not

Well now I suppose I'll have to watch the boring thing again. Often I watch a fight and rooting for one guy colors my perception. I can be more objective the second time. Did you get the impression that there's something wrong with Liakhovich? I did. He was too expressionless after the decision. And the Briggs thing. Unfortunately the so-called "Russian" mob is big in boxing. I know they got to Maskaev at least once. They fixed the outcome of the Valuev-Haye fight. Even my man Povetkin has had his photo taken with them. They do a lot worse too, like in their enclave in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, NY. You've heard of Sergei Kobozev, 1995 WBC world cruiserweight champ?

[Ilya Muromets]

Let’s think back to Wilder v Fury post fight. The HW div was looking exciting for 2019. Tomorrow is May 1, and we have AJ v Ruiz, Wilder v Breazeale and Fury v Tom Schwarz.

The only heavyweight fight I can think of that I am looking forward to now is Usyk vs Takam on May 25th, and I expect that one to be totally one sided too. Kownacki vs Helenius would be another, but I think that's just a rumor, and I actually hope it is because i like them both.

[SenorPipino]

The only heavyweight fight I can think of that I am looking forward to now is Usyk vs Takam on May 25th, and I expect that one to be totally one sided too. Kownacki vs Helenius would be another, but I think that's just a rumor, and I actually hope it is because i like them both.

Only Fury vs Schwarz turns me off.

While I'm not over the top excited about any one of the other upcoming heavyweight matchups, I'll watch all of them without reservation.

[Ilya Muromets]

Only Fury vs Schwarz turns me off.

While I'm not over the top excited about any one of the other upcoming heavyweight matchups, I'll watch all of them without reservation.

So will I but I am expecting little from them. All seem mismatches. But then life is full of unexpected surprises.