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

[ALI]

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.

Has reaction to defeat was bewildering, and as a fan, frustrating. I cant recal a single champion in memory taking a defeat like that, he needs to give himself a good shake, realise he performed terribly, get some fire in his gut, get back in the gym and start training like effing Rocky.

If he goes back into training for a rematch with this humble Mr Nice Guy nonsense, it is the wrong mindset, and another upset is likely.

[gerryd77]

Has reaction to defeat was bewildering, and as a fan, frustrating. I cant recal a single champion in memory taking a defeat like that, he needs to give himself a good shake, realise he performed terribly, get some fire in his gut, get back in the gym and start training like effing Rocky.

If he goes back into training for a rematch with this humble Mr Nice Guy nonsense, it is the wrong mindset, and another upset is likely.

I don’t think it would be an upset if Ruiz beats him again.

[Nightmare Roy]

I don’t think it would be an upset if Ruiz beats him again.

I’m pretty sure he’ll lose the rematch if it’s his next fight, Matchroom are fcuked really if they don’t take it Hayman has all the belts and it’s clear they are trying to freeze them out, just look at how Whyte cant get a shot at Wilder.

[ILikeBeer]

Uncle Eddie knows that he'll get $$$$ out of a rematch.

That's all that matters.

[Ricky]

Has reaction to defeat was bewildering, and as a fan, frustrating. I cant recal a single champion in memory taking a defeat like that, he needs to give himself a good shake, realise he performed terribly, get some fire in his gut, get back in the gym and start training like effing Rocky.

If he goes back into training for a rematch with this humble Mr Nice Guy nonsense, it is the wrong mindset, and another upset is likely.

Seemed to me to have the demeanour of a fraud who knew he would inevitably be found out anyway. He doesn't have the skills to hang with Ruiz regardless of his attitude.

[TheLeprechaun]

Seemed to me to have the demeanour of a fraud who knew he would inevitably be found out anyway. He doesn't have the skills to hang with Ruiz regardless of his attitude.

Agreed.

Joshua was exposed badly and it looked like he didn't really mind afterwards. He basically quit in the fight as well.

[HomicideHenry]

[tiny_acres]

That was great

[smiling assassin]

My first thought when I see him smiling after was that he looks like a man relieved. Relieved of all the pressure on his shoulders. He's got found out and to me he just looked relieved. thats just my 2p worth. Definitely not something you want to see from a fighter though

[MightyWarrior]

Josh never knew what hit him. Literally. He was still asking Rob McCrackin a few rounds later what did he hit me with ? the weird questions he was asking Rob showed a man who was concussed from those 3rd round skull rattling shots. Also his relaxed whatever demeanour after the fight didn’t mean a lot, he still hardly knew what the hell happened.

Crazy to take the rematch because the same thing is gonna happen. I was getting nervous about this fight yesterday & decided to buy it because Ruiz with his great chin fast hands and decent punch ( as Parker said ) coupled with the fact he is very likely getting overlooked as a fat palooka, spelt danger.

Josh could do it if he stays at range and tries out boxing him, but in a firefight, weirdly enough, he’s coming second best.

That buffoon wilder must be kicking himself for being such a chicken and turning the fight down and saying bye-bye to 50 million bucks.
Based on last night he had an excellent chance of cracking Joshua, but it would still be a lottery shootout, and maybe Joshua is better going for that one than the fat Mexican. Ruiz seems a nice guy but his eyes look like bullet holes,

The formerly Smug gob smacked Eddie Hearn looked a picture at ringside. After seeing his horrendous mismatches on the undercard plus hometown decisions it was bittersweet justice.

[oogiebe]

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

That is exactly right. That makes me wonder about the reported sport psychologist in camp. AJ was weird from the opening bell through the final presser. Very strange indeed.

[MightyWarrior]

I don’t think AJ quit I genuinely don’t think he really knew what the hell was going on, but who knows what the ref asked him, how come we don’t know that by now? But my guess is he was giving the wrong answers, or not lifting his hands when asked to.

In the corner where Rob is talking to him after the third and the fourth and the fifth, you can see he’s really spaced out, and is asking weird questions , he doesn’t seem to know what just happened

[oogiebe]

I don’t think AJ quit I genuinely don’t think he really knew what the hell was going on, but who knows what the ref asked him, how come we don’t know that by now? But my guess is he was giving the wrong answers, or not lifting his hands when asked to.

In the corner where Rob is talking to him after the third and the fourth and the fifth, you can see he’s really spaced out, and is asking weird questions , he doesn’t seem to know what just happened

Behind the ear punches like the one he took in the third round can take loads of time to get a clear head from. I don't think he ever recovered from the first one. And his breathing was atrocious. The ref asked him to walk out of the corner several times and AJ did once and then returned and leaned on the ropes nonchalantly. That's what made the ref call it off.

[overhand_right]

Yeah, the ref was telling him 'come on, you have to fight,' and Joshua just stood there grinning stupidly at him.

[Noxy]

I guess Dave Allen would be favourite to beat Joshua now.

Aye, you do get that impression reading this thread. It’s going overboard on Josh.

[oogiebe]

Aye, you do get that impression reading this thread. It’s going overboard on Josh.

LOL! AJ still has all those pre-Ruiz accomplishments, no need to write him off, but discussing what went wrong last evening is ok. If he can straighten out his head he'll be back and be fine so long as it's with a new trainer.

[dr_devious]

My first thought when I see him smiling after was that he looks like a man relieved. Relieved of all the pressure on his shoulders. He's got found out and to me he just looked relieved. thats just my 2p worth. Definitely not something you want to see from a fighter though

Maybe he just fights for the money

[overhand_right]

Maybe he just fights for the money

He's endorsing tons of products, speaks about wanting to be a millionaire, seems more interested in his brand thank risky fights with Fury and Wilder. He didn't have much appetite for the actual fighting part of boxing once Ruiz was walking him down hitting hard up and down. Was probably worrying about his endorsements.

[Oiky]

Joshua has it all....

Except a true boxers brain & fighters heart...

Deep down he knows what the likes of fury,wilder &usyk do to him

[jamesmcdonnell]

Im not writing joshua off, he lost, it happens, i dont think his head was right coming into this, and weirdly it may do him a favour, force him to get his head straight, fewer distractions.

We shall see.

[Bard of Boxrec]

Some of these comments are hilarious .

You’ve got to love the revisionist sages who line up to shoot down a proven guy , so proud and righteous after the fact.

Joshua got caught and got reckless . That’s the story of this fight. It was a terrible night for him, but he’ll avenge this loss in style. I’ll be sure to resurrect this thread when he does. It’ll be rather sweet.

[coneye]

Im not writing joshua off, he lost, it happens, i dont think his head was right coming into this, and weirdly it may do him a favour, force him to get his head straight, fewer distractions.

We shall see.

Tempted to agree a bit , i certainly would'nt right him off , I've said on numerous posts , he needs to get rid of the baggage , prior to the fight he's playing the buisnessman , , managing his own carreer , , big sponsors , ect ect ect all distractions , then it seems his camp is more about body building and less about boxing skills , definetly nothing to do with building his stamina which is above terrible , its ATROCIOUS ,

Maybee if he can just get himself a manager who takes ALL the pressure of the buisness side , and gets a trainer who , actually gets him in condition and does'nt tell him to jab to the body against smaller guys , especielly smaller guys who are looking to take his head off with hooks , One who actually tells him off , in the corner when he's jabbing from the hip , and above all one who tells him he's supposed to be a boxer not a weight lifter , then maybee he can come back and rule again

[Spud]

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

Great point ,,,, but boxing politics in particular the position of Wilder & Fury means AJ & Eddie have choice but to go for the legally binding immediate rematch or be frozen out of for possibly years.

[JimStone]

Not sure I agree mucker. If AJ gets done over in a rematch, which is quite likely, he's more or less goosed. Whereas with a strategic rebuild, Eddie's silver tongue going ten to the dozen will have the public won over in no time. AJ will be the biggest draw in the division again within a fight or two.