Irrespective of the outcome, the immediate rematch is a foolish move

[JimStone]

Pay heed, Eddie.

This was a Witherspoon v Bruno loss not a Rahman v Lewis.

The problems Joshua had with Ruiz can't be remedied properly in a few months. He could catch Ruiz and beat him, absolutely, but it's the move of an idiot to pin your career legacy on that.

[tigermoth87]

AJ is a one note fighter.

He has zero stamina. Zero ring IQ. Average boxing abilities. Zero defence. A weak chin.

His one skill is that he can bang, hard. But Ruiz has shown, despite the knockdown, that he can take AJ's power and, obviously, can hurt him.

It's not like AJ was dominating and got caught with a lucky shot. He was humiliated. A rematch will more than likely go the same way.

He can't jump straight in with a world level opponent either. Wilder knows now that AJ has a piss poor chin and will clean his clock. Fury knows now that he has no stamina or ring IQ and will see it out until the late stages. Even Whyte will beat AJ in the rematch because Ruiz Jr has given him the blueprint of how to do so.

[JimStone]

Precisely my point and the reason the people managing Joshua's career should not make the immediate rematch.

[Nightmare Roy]

I don’t think AJ would beat him in a rematch, it would be a bad move to get straight back in there, not sure he’s mentally strong enough like Lewis, very worrying when he was asking his trainer “what’s he gonna do this round”, needs to rebuild or knock it on the head.

[overhand_right]

I agree. As I said in another thread, this is more likely to be Price/Thompson II not Lewis/Rahman II.

You can't make Joshua more talented than Ruiz.

[gilgamesh]

I don’t think AJ would beat him in a rematch, it would be a bad move to get straight back in there, not sure he’s mentally strong enough like Lewis, very worrying when he was asking his trainer “what’s he gonna do this round”, needs to rebuild or knock it on the head.

Not sure that the all smiles "Hey good for you for beating me up buddy" approach to losing is a good sign either. I can't recall ever seeing that sh*t to be honest

Maybe I'm just forgetting, but I don't recall too many people being so giddy at least outwardly following a defeat. I'm sure inside he felt like crying, but just didn't know what to do.

[Nightmare Roy]

Not sure that the all smiles "Hey good for you for beating me up buddy" approach to losing is a good sign either. I can't recall ever seeing that sh*t to be honest

Maybe I'm just forgetting, but I don't recall too many people being so giddy at least outwardly following a defeat. I'm sure inside he felt like crying, but just didn't know what to do.

Yeah it was very strange, I’m not sure he’ll fight again, seemed to take it way to easy, maybe he’s thinking fcuk it , I’m a smart guy with all my facilities, I’ve made tens of millions, I’m outta here.

[jamamb]

the thing thats worrying for aj is how badly and easily he was being hurt, its not like lewis being taken out by a big rahman bomb, pretty much any time andy put those fast aggressive combos together aj was teetering. and the final kd looked like a physical and mental capituatltion

[ironbeard]

AJ is a one note fighter.

He has zero stamina. Zero ring IQ. Average boxing abilities. Zero defence. A weak chin.

His one skill is that he can bang, hard. But Ruiz has shown, despite the knockdown, that he can take AJ's power and, obviously, can hurt him.

It's not like AJ was dominating and got caught with a lucky shot. He was humiliated. A rematch will more than likely go the same way.

He can't jump straight in with a world level opponent either. Wilder knows now that AJ has a piss poor chin and will clean his clock. Fury knows now that he has no stamina or ring IQ and will see it out until the late stages. Even Whyte will beat AJ in the rematch because Ruiz Jr has given him the blueprint of how to do so.

Having the blueprint and executing the plan are two entirely different animals.

[ironbeard]

Yeah it was very strange, I’m not sure he’ll fight again, seemed to take it way to easy, maybe he’s thinking fcuk it , I’m a smart guy with all my facilities, I’ve made tens of millions, I’m outta here.

You may be right, and I would not blame him.

[ironbeard]

the thing thats worrying for aj is how badly and easily he was being hurt, its not like lewis being taken out by a big rahman bomb, pretty much any time andy put those fast aggressive combos together aj was teetering. and the final kd looked like a physical and mental capituatltion

It was the temple shots. Those were the killers. When he got hit in the temple his circuitry between brain and legs got discombobulated. He never recovered from round three.

[coneye]

SWaid it in a previous post , i tuned in with no sound at rnd 5 , watched rnd 5 part of rnd 6 and thought what the fook AJ is scared shitless of this guy , then i got the sound and heard he had been dropped twice , and it made sence , he definetly was'nt trying to redeem the knock downs he was running trying to not engage , and thats one way of getting knocked

[tobyh5]

I think this backs up the thread title.

He looks like he is putting a brave face on it, its still fresh and not sunk in, no time to really gather thoughts and play out scenarios in his mind, but also looks like a weight lifted off his shoulders. Lacks that spite, that "something" that says, "I will get my motherfcking titles back....shite happens, I am the man, its a mistake, I will do this that and the other."

All too calm and composed. Plus note he kept saying things about Eddie will decide what is next, who is next, said "you know what I want next" (to mean Wilder still), and did not seem too keen for a rematch. He knew he had an absolute hammering

[bigjack]

My first thought are that Ruiz will win any rematch and in more emphatic fashion.Joshua simply can't handle the speed,he'll go away and get bigger and slower,and Ruiz will get more confident,a rematch this year will finish Joshua's career.

[overhand_right]

He'd probably be better off fighting Wilder, another late starter in the sport.

Ruiz started boxing at six. Joshua started boxing at 18. That's a gulf in experience that is going to be difficult to bridge.

[DrDuke]

For the moment I'm pretty hesitant about the rematch outcome. On the first look, Joshua was doing well before jumping on Ruiz after brief success. On the other hand, Ruiz for sure got more confidence with this win. Furthermore, Joshua again proved to be clueless after being pulled out of his comfort zone. Too many factors here.

[Coco]

I appreciate that some people are now saying that Joshua is hopeless!
But let's get real here, Ruiz demonstrated he can fight, I'm sure he took Ruiz lightly too, however styles make fights and I think Ruiz will always be difficult for him.
Joshua has already made his money, his only concern should be about being world champion, so that he has to fight Ruiz again, if not his next fight should be Fury or Wilder.

[Coco]

Is Ruiz contracted to the rematch? Or could Wilder swoop in and become undisputed champ?

[jamamb]

big draws tend to have immediate rematch clauses i think

[Oiky]

Agreed

Joshua doesn't have the strength of mind or the boxing brain to beat Ruiz

[samwbr]

Eddies said its on in the UK November or December.

[rd350lc]

Yeah it was very strange, I’m not sure he’ll fight again, seemed to take it way to easy, maybe he’s thinking fcuk it , I’m a smart guy with all my facilities, I’ve made tens of millions, I’m outta here.

I'm suprised more people have not commented on how strange it was, never seen a fighter so happy to lose, yes it showed great sportsmanship, but odd reaction to somebody at the height of his game, multiple belt holder etc.
He's made his money, so good luck to him

[samwbr]

I think this backs up the thread title.

He looks like he is putting a brave face on it, its still fresh and not sunk in, no time to really gather thoughts and play out scenarios in his mind, but also looks like a weight lifted off his shoulders. Lacks that spite, that "something" that says, "I will get my motherfcking titles back....shite happens, I am the man, its a mistake, I will do this that and the other."

All too calm and composed. Plus note he kept saying things about Eddie will decide what is next, who is next, said "you know what I want next" (to mean Wilder still), and did not seem too keen for a rematch. He knew he had an absolute hammering

He offered no excuses and was gracious in defeat. Maybe you are looking for some confirmation that wasn't there.

[JamieM]

AJ has seemed different his whole camp in my eyes. I think hes been carrying injuries. He showed the scarring on his hands and had them on his face as swell as swollen most his camp.As for an immediate rematch that style will give him nightmares again. He didn't have an answer for combination punching. Ruiz was very unorthodox and wild and was almost novice like winging in hooks and just throwing AJ a bit. I think fury is looking to swoop in here and the win over Schwartz will get him a ranking. Styles makes fights.

[tobyh5]

He offered no excuses and was gracious in defeat. Maybe you are looking for some confirmation that wasn't there.

No fire. No spite. Nothing to show a fighters heart.

He is an athlete who was taught to box. This gracious in defeat attitude is wrong. Five live with Frampton, Haye and bunce were incredulous at his attitude. Well worth listening to and can be downloaded as the boxing five live podcast