What changes should AJ make for the rematch?

[keirw]

All the conspiracy talk has distracted from the fact that there is a very important Heavyweight rematch due late in the year. One that may have huge ramifications for the division for years to come.

Joshua was beaten, no amount of theorising will change that.

If it were up to you what would you want him to do differently in camp and on fight night?

Spar Cruiserweights to better prepare for the speed?

Lay off the weights to improve stamina?

Change of trainer perhaps?

Or keep it the same, just use better tactics on the night?

Discuss, but please keep it civil chaps

[dbf]

He was doing well until he got caught. He’s probably going to be a bit gunshy after that as he left himself so exposed when going for the kill. His confidence would have taken a knock and he’s probably going to be more cautious.

He’s not changing trainer. He should fight like the man with better attributes (height, reach) and he will probably get a dull decision win.

[Coco]

Keep his hands up, keep things long and don't dive in.

[dr_devious]

Get a new chin

[oogiebe]

Get a new chin

[Bard of Boxrec]

Not much to change, just keep it tighter, not so reckless. It might be a longer fight, less action and Ruiz may have his moments but AJ should win a 117-111 or 116-112 type decision .

[oogiebe]

Not much to change, just keep it tighter, not so reckless. It might be a longer fight, less action and Ruiz may have his moments but AJ should win a 117-111 or 116-112 type decision .

Use his freakin' jab at long range and quit on those weak body jabs.

[ewenhay]

There's not an awful lot he can change in 6 months I don't think. He's very reliant on a small number of well practiced moves and struggles if he needs to find something different.

I was quite alarmed at how lacking in confidence he really is. Multiple times asking his corner what to do and what Ruiz was going to do. Ruiz mixed things up and Joshua struggled with that.

I think they'll concentrate on controlling the distance a bit better and being a bit busier with the jab.

[oogiebe]

There's not an awful lot he can change in 6 months I don't think. He's very reliant on a small number of well practiced moves and struggles if he needs to find something different.

I was quite alarmed at how lacking in confidence he really is. Multiple times asking his corner what to do and what Ruiz was going to do. Ruiz mixed things up and Joshua struggled with that.

I think they'll concentrate on controlling the distance a bit better and being a bit busier with the jab.

All he needs to do is change tactics.

[ewenhay]

All he needs to do is change tactics.

Easier said than done. How many different tactics have you seen him deploy?

His defence needs a lot of work. None of that comes naturally to him. The two knockdowns in the 7th he was trying to grab thin air when he was too far away to grab and should have been defending himself.

[keirw]

Joshua does have a bit of history struggling to land clean on shorter guys.

He missed entire combinations at times against Takam, as we all saw.

It even goes further back than that, he couldn't find the winning shot against Baktov either and had to throw massive flurries until the ref stepped in.

Parker isn't necessarily short, but was able to lean low to his left and avoid the straight right that Joshua used to follow nearly every left hook with early in his career.
Imo that was the main reasons why Parker was able to see all 12 rounds that night.

Ruis is short but has fought taller men most of his life and knows how effective dipping low and throwing hooks over the top is.

He also faced a similar height opponent a few weeks back, so the 5 week notice was far less of a hindrance than many first expected.

Should he focus his sparring on guys even shorter tha Ruiz, to get more used to the lower head position?

[oogiebe]

Easier said than done. How many different tactics have you seen him deploy?

His defence needs a lot of work. None of that comes naturally to him. The two knockdowns in the 7th he was trying to grab thin air when he was too far away to grab and should have been defending himself.

Jab at a distance; be patient; create opportunities off the jab. He's done that before.

[ewenhay]

The challenge for the Ruiz camp will be keeping him focused and making sure he turns up hungry and in shape. Being heavyweight champion brings a hell of a lot of distractions.

I really don't think Joshua will do anything differently. He'll just try to do the things he can do better than he did last weekend.

[ewenhay]

Jab at a distance; be patient; create opportunities off the jab. He's done that before.

I agree that controlling the distance and being busier with the jab is the best tactic for him. But that's not a change in tactics. That's what he does every time, he just wasn't able to have things his own way last week.

[jamamb]

for starters, be more controlled if he hurts ruiz again. that was nothing that ruiz made him do or forced him into

[oogiebe]

I agree that controlling the distance and being busier with the jab is the best tactic for him. But that's not a change in tactics. That's what he does every time, he just wasn't able to have things his own way last week.

He just wasn't patient. He went in for the kill way too early and got whacked.

[HomicideHenry]

[emallini]

Ruiz will improve

[ewenhay]

Ruiz will improve

It will be really interesting to see how he handles things.

You're right, no one has considered that Ruiz might improve which is a possibility

[oogiebe]

It will be really interesting to see how he handles things.

You're right, no one has considered that Ruiz might improve which is a possibility

I think he will improve. It'll be his third fight with Manny Robles and he'll get better and probably fitter. I'm looking forward to a rematch. Here's a shocker; I might even be rooting for AJ! America loves a comeback story!

[Boxingcutsman]

I honestly can’t see any different outcome no matter what Joshua changes, I always thought Ruiz would beat him my only doubt was would he be big enough, he showed he was capable of navigating the size difference with ease and showed he was strong enough to push Joshua back, I can’t see what Joshua can improve so greatly on to deal with Ruiz speed, combinations, movement, chin and overall boxing ability, whereas I can see Ruiz now take boxing seriously and really dedicate himself and only get better

[oogiebe]

I honestly can’t see any different outcome no matter what Joshua changes, I always thought Ruiz would beat him my only doubt was would he be big enough, he showed he was capable of navigating the size difference with ease and showed he was strong enough to push Joshua back, I can’t see what Joshua can improve so greatly on to deal with Ruiz speed, combinations, movement, chin and overall boxing ability, whereas I can see Ruiz now take boxing seriously and really dedicate himself and only get better

Ruiz has always taken boxing seriously. If you are referring to his body, I don't think that reflects a lack of commitment to boxing. Regardless, I don't believe his reign will be too long.

[Boxingcutsman]

Ruiz has always taken boxing seriously. If you are referring to his body, I don't think that reflects a lack of commitment to boxing. Regardless, I don't believe his reign will be too long.

No I don’t mean his body, I know that doesn’t mean nothing I’ve never been caught up on that I know better, I’ve been involved in pro boxing a very very long time, What I meant was he as openly said he has trained himself, cut corners diet wise and been inactive and not taken it as seriously has he should at times, where as I believe now he will train and be like a man possessed

[Ricky]

He can't beat Ruiz, he should move on.

[TheLeprechaun]

Whether he can win or not, he does need to make changes.

The first thing is to absolutely stop throwing his own left hook. Throwing it as a lead hook was a poor poor decision and got him clipped by Ruiz's own left hook and Ruiz's overhand right on separate occasions. It's a punch that will get him countered and hurt and a very bad idea vs Ruiz. In fairness McCracken was saying as much in the corner.

A snappier jab is needed and stick to straight punches. Fast right hand counters every time Ruiz comes forward.

His movement was decent and he needs to come in with 12 rounds of stamina for that. Ruiz is probably too tough to be getting taken out.

McCracken can't really teach him the art of clinching, which would be a major change and improvement. He really hasn't got that skill down at all but it would be a major addition to his game and definitely a good argument for him to switch trainer.

Ultimately he has to basically fight like a well schooled amateur boxer here and hope that Ruiz's laziness and willingness to give rounds away works to his advantage. Ruiz will probably feel like he can get the KO and won't mind losing rounds here and there and maybe be a little too patient, which he already kind of is anyway.

All of these changes wouldn't win him the fight for me because Ruiz can actually work his way forward with his own jab and work his way into position to let his fast hands go. He's always coming forward and wants an exchange of punches because he knows his hands are faster. Even when he was hurt he continued to press forward so if AJ hurt him he has to remain cautious as Ruiz is extremely dangerous when hurt.