AJ: Ruiz not the guy I wanted to be fighting

[oogiebe]

To be fair Joshua did make the attempt to be real champion of the world, but he came badly unstuck, There were various reasons, not least the quality of that lowly ranked challenger, and not all of them known to us.

I want to believe that Joshua has a good chance of winning the rematch but he needs to be focused and disciplined and he needs all the help he can get, including hometown advantage, which if I know Hearn is already a contractual option.

He needs to forget all this crap about setting it right in the location where it went wrong. Stuff the criticisms of idiots saying he'll be letting down his newfound stateside fans, just win the frickin' belts back (before they get scattered to the four winds) then if and when he's done that there is nothing to stop him having a rubber with Ruiz at the Garden and /or making a second attempt at establishing himself in the US.

Scurrying back to the UK will leave many questions about AJ win or lose. I'd be impressed if he rematches in the States and wins back the belt. Anything less is sad.

[candyslim]

Sorry Oogie no offence intended but that is just the kind of opinion he would be well advised to ignore. Ruiz is too good to give away his advantages in the absurd name of chivalry, or some such nonsense. Sad that you should feel that way but the important thing is to get the belts back, then he can set about repairing any damage to the perception of those who don't really give a sh1t about him anyway.

It was pride and wanting to do the right thing that got him to be a former champion. Perhaps he should recognize that he's not unbeatable and fight only in his homeland against opposition that has been approved by management. If he were to lose to Ruiz there's no knowing how long he might be strung along waiting for a title shot.

[ewenhay]

To be fair Joshua did make the attempt to be real champion of the world, but he came badly unstuck, There were various reasons, not least the quality of that lowly ranked challenger, and not all of them known to us.

I want to believe that Joshua has a good chance of winning the rematch but he needs to be focused and disciplined and he needs all the help he can get, including hometown advantage, which if I know Hearn is already a contractual option.

He needs to forget all this crap about setting it right in the location where it went wrong. Stuff the criticisms of idiots saying he'll be letting down his newfound stateside fans, just win the frickin' belts back (before they get scattered to the four winds) then if and when he's done that there is nothing to stop him having a rubber with Ruiz at the Garden and /or making a second attempt at establishing himself in the US.

If he needs all the help and advantages he can get including home advantage then you've kinda proved my point.

It's no different to Sven Ottke in that case

[oogiebe]

To be fair Joshua did make the attempt to be real champion of the world, but he came badly unstuck, There were various reasons, not least the quality of that lowly ranked challenger, and not all of them known to us.

I want to believe that Joshua has a good chance of winning the rematch but he needs to be focused and disciplined and he needs all the help he can get, including hometown advantage, which if I know Hearn is already a contractual option.

He needs to forget all this crap about setting it right in the location where it went wrong. Stuff the criticisms of idiots saying he'll be letting down his newfound stateside fans, just win the frickin' belts back (before they get scattered to the four winds) then if and when he's done that there is nothing to stop him having a rubber with Ruiz at the Garden and /or making a second attempt at establishing himself in the US.

If he needs all the help and advantages he can get including home advantage then you've kinda proved my point.

It's no different to Sven Ottke in that case

Thanks. You beat me to the punch.

[candyslim]

I don't hear you berating Wilder for not defending overseas. Before you can establish yourself as a great champion you first need to become a champion (again).

[greg]

In spite of my skepticism regarding home town warriors and their achievements I would strongly advise (not that anyone needs it mind you) AJ to box in Britain...

[ewenhay]

I don't hear you berating Wilder for not defending overseas. Before you can establish yourself as a great champion you first need to become a champion (again).

Nobody was talking about Wilder. Not every conversation about Joshua needs a comparison with Wilder to justify or refute a point of view.

[oogiebe]

I don't hear you berating Wilder for not defending overseas. Before you can establish yourself as a great champion you first need to become a champion (again).

Nobody was talking about Wilder. Not every conversation about Joshua needs a comparison with Wilder to justify or refute a point of view.

Seriously. Why do we always have to move the goalpost? Candy, OTO was right.

[ewenhay]

Also

Wilder has fought in the UK before as well as in Puerto Rico. He also signed to fight in Moscow.

He may well have fought in other countries too but I'm not over familiar with his early record. Others will be more knowledgeable on that front

[candyslim]

Thank you Greg. Then he can defend overseas from a position of strength i.e. with the security blanket of a rematch clause with a UK option. No point being a furkin hero and an ex-champ who has lost his last two fights, and who is at risk of getting frozen out for the next two years.

I am a Joshua fan. I have his best interest at heart and I'm being practical -Screw romanticism.

I mention Wilder because the two should be held to the same standards or you leave yourself open to a charge of hypocrisy, no?

[ewenhay]

Thank you Greg. Then he can defend overseas from a position of strength i.e. with the security blanket of a rematch clause with a UK option. No point being a furkin hero and an ex-champ who has lost his last two fights, and who is at risk of getting frozen out for the next two years.

I am a Joshua fan. I have his best interest at heart and I'm being practical -Screw romanticism.

I mention Wilder because the two should be held to the same standards or you leave yourself open to a charge of hypocrisy, no?

I understand boxing is a business and is all about the money rather than the legacy. Fighters will always try and get as many advantages as they can and all that is fine and dandy.

I'm a boxing fan though and have zero vested interest in any fighter's purse.

You refer to him becoming a 'great champion'. My point was that if he always fights at home with all the advantages then don't expect him to be remembered as a great champion. Because many people won't.

[candyslim]

Fair do's but my point is that he did defend in America and that proved to be his undoing. He can try again but he needs to be champion first or it's only adding to the pressure that has already proved to have been beyond him.

[greg]

Thank you Greg. Then he can defend overseas from a position of strength i.e. with the security blanket of a rematch clause with a UK option. No point being a furkin hero and an ex-champ who has lost his last two fights, and who is at risk of getting frozen out for the next two years.

I am a Joshua fan. I have his best interest at heart and I'm being practical -Screw romanticism.

I mention Wilder because the two should be held to the same standards or you leave yourself open to a charge of hypocrisy, no?

I understand boxing is a business and is all about the money rather than the legacy. Fighters will always try and get as many advantages as they can and all that is fine and dandy.

I'm a boxing fan though and have zero vested interest in any fighter's purse.

You refer to him becoming a 'great champion'. My point was that if he always fights at home with all the advantages then don't expect him to be remembered as a great champion. Because many people won't.

Wether you look at it from the AJ career standpoint, legal standpoint or just from the fairness point of view, it all indicates in the same direction: Britain, end of

[ewenhay]

What do you mean by 'a fairness point of view'?

Surely fairness would indicate as even a contest as possible?

[oogiebe]

Fair do's but my point is that he did defend in America and that proved to be his undoing. He can try again but he needs to be champion first or it's only adding to the pressure that has already proved to have been beyond him.

Yeah, he unsuccessfully defended in America.

[greg]

What do you mean by 'a fairness point of view'?

Surely fairness would indicate as even a contest as possible?

Fairness meaning: first I come over and enjoy your hospitality and then you come by and meet my family....

[ewenhay]

What do you mean by 'a fairness point of view'?

Surely fairness would indicate as even a contest as possible?

Fairness meaning: first I come over and enjoy your hospitality and then you come by and meet my family....

That would suggest that Joshua did some sort of favour for Ruiz and is owed a favour in return?

I don't really see it that way.

[oogiebe]

What do you mean by 'a fairness point of view'?

Surely fairness would indicate as even a contest as possible?

Fairness meaning: first I come over and enjoy your hospitality and then you come by and meet my family....

It's boxing, not dating.

[greg]

Fairness meaning: first I come over and enjoy your hospitality and then you come by and meet my family....

That would suggest that Joshua did some sort of favour for Ruiz and is owed a favour in return?

I don't really see it that way.

..it‘s not about doing someone a favor, it‘s all about what they call Location, Location, Location...

[oogiebe]

That would suggest that Joshua did some sort of favour for Ruiz and is owed a favour in return?

I don't really see it that way.

..it‘s not about doing someone a favor, it‘s all about what they call Location, Location, Location...

I would never have criticized this move by Hearn to have the fight in the UK had AJ not been emphatic in wanting to get redemption where the 'crime' occurred. That's what makes it smell a bit.

[ewenhay]

That would suggest that Joshua did some sort of favour for Ruiz and is owed a favour in return?

I don't really see it that way.

..it‘s not about doing someone a favor, it‘s all about what they call Location, Location, Location...

Joshua and his team chose to fight in the USA and cancelled a date at Wembley. They thought fighting in the USA against an American based fighter would increase his profile and earn him more money.

There was no charitable act here.

[greg]

..it‘s not about doing someone a favor, it‘s all about what they call Location, Location, Location...

I would never have criticized this move by Hearn to have the fight in the UK had AJ not been emphatic in wanting to get redemption where the 'crime' occurred. That's what makes it smell a bit.

It was very naive and absurd of him to mention NY...I just hope Hearn is smart enough to do the right thing considering what is at stake..

[candyslim]

Fair do's but my point is that he did defend in America and that proved to be his undoing. He can try again but he needs to be champion first or it's only adding to the pressure that has already proved to have been beyond him.

Yeah, he unsuccessfully defended in America.

Is that not what I said?

That's why he can't afford to play the white knight. He can forget about being remembered as a great champion at least until he has established himself as a two-time champion, and that is a long way from guaranteed. Signing off now. Will pick it up in the morning if necessary.

[oogiebe]

Yeah, he unsuccessfully defended in America.

Is that not what I said?

That's why he can't afford to play the white knight. He can forget about being remembered as a great champion at least until he has established himself as a two-time champion, and that is a long way from guaranteed. Signing off now. Will pick it up in the morning if necessary.

There will always be questions about AJ's mental toughness if this fight is held in the UK. No question about it.

[greg]

Gentlemen, it‘s almost 2am in my place, have to go to bed now..