AJ: I was hit "by a lucky punch."

[margaret thatcher]

I think for me the issue is that some people act as though Ruiz just totally was superior in every way, and that this wasn't some, oh he just got caught issue, but I think clearly getting dropped that first time impacted his performance for the rest of the fight. That is different from just being generally outmatched in every way start to finish, with no answer at all at any point.

Before AJ got dropped, he'd won the first 2 rounds on all cards and scored a nice KD himself. Andy did not just walk through his shots either, he got put on his ass. Then after AJ went for the kill and got dropped Josh was pretty feeble. It was a different fight.

So avoiding getting seriously hurt in the first place is the big issue. I think if he does that, and big if, then he can actually win a wide decision, and that you won't be seeing him just generally bossed around like Ruiz did in a bunch of the rounds. We may forget, but Ruiz himself lost to Joe Parker and had looked pretty mediocre a good few times himself. It wouldn't surprise me if AJ made us remember 'that' Ruiz in the rematch, but then again it could all just happen again.

[ewenhay]

I didn't think there was much between them before the knock downs started.

[margaret thatcher]

It certainly wasn't like the fight after the KDs. Felt AJ was edging it, and he did officially get both rounds and then a nice KD, if he can avoid being hurt bad he could well make the rematch go like that he could win pretty wide on the cards. If he drops Ruiz again or hurts him he needs to be more measured in his follow up.

[ewenhay]

It certainly wasn't like the fight after the KDs. Felt AJ was edging it, and he did get both rounds and then a nice KD, if he can make the rematch go like that he could win pretty wide on the cards.

Both of the first two rounds were pretty close.

[margaret thatcher]

Ya, they were slow rounds, but both for AJ and I think if he can avoid being hurt he can make most of the rounds go like that. Bit like the fight vs Parker, the guy who beat Ruiz mainly by jabbing and moving and edging rounds.

[ewenhay]

Ya, they were slow rounds, but both for AJ and I think if he can avoid being hurt he can make most of the rounds go like that. Bit like the fight vs Parker, the guy who beat Ruiz mainly by jabbing and moving and edging rounds.

It will be hard to keep him away for twelve rounds now that he knows he can take him out.

Pretty tiring work for Joshua too. Emotionally and physically

[margaret thatcher]

It will, but the fight game is a tiring game. I think the fight turned when AJ got wreckless following up vs a short guy who excels when opponents come in and trade. If AJ sticks to a more measrued approach from the start I think he has a much better chance to keep his senses and keep away from Ruiz, even if Ruiz is coming for him. People forget too that Ruiz himself has been very up and down in his fights, wouldn't surprise me at all if he doesn't box to the same level again.

Or Josh could just capitulate right now and not even give it a go

[ewenhay]

It will, but the fight game is a tiring game. I think the fight turned when AJ got wreckless following up vs a short guy who excels when opponents come in and trade. If AJ sticks to a more measrued approach from the start I think he has a much better chance to keep his senses and keep away from Ruiz, even if Ruiz is coming for him. People forget too that Ruiz himself has been very up and down in his fights, wouldn't surprise me at all if he doesn't box to the same level again.

If he's disciplined it could well work out that way.

Going to be very interesting on a number of different levels

[oogiebe]

It will, but the fight game is a tiring game. I think the fight turned when AJ got wreckless following up vs a short guy who excels when opponents come in and trade. If AJ sticks to a more measrued approach from the start I think he has a much better chance to keep his senses and keep away from Ruiz, even if Ruiz is coming for him. People forget too that Ruiz himself has been very up and down in his fights, wouldn't surprise me at all if he doesn't box to the same level again.

One would have thought that AJ's team would have figured that out before the first fight. I still see the same or similar outcome. It's up to Ruiz and his dedication and fire. If he has gotten too comfortable with his new money, it will be a bad night for him.

[snake33]

AJ lost on a lucky punch if you consider every punch after the first one that hurt him to be a domino effect.
If the first punch didn't happen the rest wouldn't have happened.
Or he got a solid butt kicking in two rounds and was stopped in the second one.
So, he either needs to avoid the first punch (no problem) or the butt kickings (harder).

Yeah but that's stretching the argument to the extreme isn't it.? That would make the majority of wins classify as 'lucky'

The Domino effect is the only way to define the first punch as singularly lucky.
Personally, I think he got his butt kicked two separate rounds and next time he'll
have to avoid that for 12.

[margaret thatcher]

It will, but the fight game is a tiring game. I think the fight turned when AJ got wreckless following up vs a short guy who excels when opponents come in and trade. If AJ sticks to a more measrued approach from the start I think he has a much better chance to keep his senses and keep away from Ruiz, even if Ruiz is coming for him. People forget too that Ruiz himself has been very up and down in his fights, wouldn't surprise me at all if he doesn't box to the same level again.

One would have thought that AJ's team would have figured that out before the first fight. I still see the same or similar outcome. It's up to Ruiz and his dedication and fire. If he has gotten too comfortable with his new money, it will be a bad night for him.

He was fighting like they had at the start, but then when he scored the KD I think he was a little too blood thirsty. Looked more wild than usual.

If it's all true what has been said about him being very mentally weak with the comments he's made, he will probably fold easily this time, with the knowledge that Ruiz already hurt and stopped him. Should be even more of a walkover then, but maybe he's not actually that f@cked up by things.

[oogiebe]

One would have thought that AJ's team would have figured that out before the first fight. I still see the same or similar outcome. It's up to Ruiz and his dedication and fire. If he has gotten too comfortable with his new money, it will be a bad night for him.

He was fighting like they had at the start, but then when he scored the KD I think he was a little too blood thirsty. Looked more wild than usual.

If it's all true what has been said about him being very mentally weak with the comments he's made, he will probably fold easily this time, with the knowledge that Ruiz already hurt and stopped him. Should be even more of a walkover then, but maybe he's not actually that f@cked up by things.

Maybe not. I hope not.

[victor-romeo]

AJ hit by a lucky punch and then a bunch more lucky punches...That was a weird ring walk AJ took that night to fight Ruiz down right bizarre.

[ironbeard]

AJ hit by a lucky punch and then a bunch more lucky punches...That was a weird ring walk AJ took that night to fight Ruiz down right bizarre.

I agree. AJ seemed distracted from the start. Also, pre-fight ceremony took an eternity.

But when the fight started AJ was looking solid. I thought that he took the first two rounds, close and opened up beautifully in rd 3. I do not think that his approach after the hard KD was inappropriate. He nailed TFKoB with a couple of more monster shots that would have stopped many large animals. Even after the third looked as though he might be able to make it to a close decision.

It is going to be an interesting rematch.

Some have suggested that the Parker fights (win for AJ / loss for TFKoB) are the prescription for an AJ victory in the rematch. Maybe, but AJ lacks Parker’s chin and Parker lacks TFKoB’s pop and barrage counter punching ability.

[Ricky]

AJs over thinking things. He should just admit his krptonite is a heavyweight with a solid chin. He'll probably crack Ruiz with a few more hard shots in Saudi that will break his heart when hekeeps coming. Ruiz will retire this chump.

[margaret thatcher]

I mean 2.5 rounds in an he already dropped Ruiz. Then within seconds of that he was down himself and never really the same. I don't really see much of a window for AJ's heart to have been broken by Ruiz's durability.

[ironbeard]

I mean 2.5 rounds in an he already dropped Ruiz. Then within seconds of that he was down himself and never really the same. I don't really see much of a window for AJ's heart to have been broken by Ruiz's durability.

It wasn’t like TFKoB masterfully avoided AJ’s power. He got up, shook it off like a dog does water, and walked through even bigger shots to turn the tide.

TFKoB did not break his heart. He beat his over pampered and pumped ass.

[margaret thatcher]

I think after getting dropped he got hit with only one notable punch again all fight, he really scrambled AJ and shut him down starting with that KD. From there AJ only had weak pawing body jabs. AJ cannot afford to get seriously hurt again unless he's totally changed his approach to that for the better.

Ruiz took too few shots , and of course hit the canvas pretty quick, for me to really be convinced that he can just walk through AJ's power if it's landing regularly. But he's shown that he can at least come through some fire to shut down AJ's power output and so it has to be considered a strong possibility he does it a second time.

[lazboy]

I think after getting dropped he got hit with only one notable punch again all fight, he really scrambled AJ and shut him down starting with that KD. From there AJ only had weak pawing body jabs. AJ cannot afford to get seriously hurt again unless he's totally changed his approach to that for the better.

Ruiz took too few shots , and of course hit the canvas pretty quick, for me to really be convinced that he can just walk through AJ's power if it's landing regularly. But he's shown that he can at least come through some fire to shut down AJ's power output and so it has to be considered a strong possibility he does it a second time.

AJ landed some notable punches after round 3. Some heavy shots that got the crowd going. Ruiz answered back immediately, flurrying. AJ cannot afford to stand toe to toe. Imo he will fight a different fight and not be in awe of his landed punches which is a common mistake.

[jewboypgh]

I’m heading down the rivers casino and putting my cash on the Mexican cupcake again.
The kid can fight. He’s way tougher that kownacki.
AJ is a hype job. He’s going down again

[nmhz]

Can someone please fill me in on what TFKoB stands for. thanks in advance!

[lazboy]

Can someone please fill me in on what TFKoB stands for. thanks in advance!

The fat king of boxing.

Tanzio/ironbeard just keeps getting funnier and funnier....not. What name will he pick next, can’t wait.....not.

[Paci]

Can someone please fill me in on what TFKoB stands for. thanks in advance!

The fat king of boxing.

Tanzio/ironbeard just keeps getting funnier and funnier....not. What name will he pick next, can’t wait.....not.

Please leave those "not"-jokes in 90s please!

[ironbeard]

Can someone please fill me in on what TFKoB stands for. thanks in advance!

The fat king of boxing.

Tanzio/ironbeard just keeps getting funnier and funnier....not. What name will he pick next, can’t wait.....not.

lazyboy is quite the creative genius.

It is The Fat King of Boxing (TFKoB). Case matters.

[ironbeard]

I think after getting dropped he got hit with only one notable punch again all fight, he really scrambled AJ and shut him down starting with that KD. From there AJ only had weak pawing body jabs. AJ cannot afford to get seriously hurt again unless he's totally changed his approach to that for the better.

Ruiz took too few shots , and of course hit the canvas pretty quick, for me to really be convinced that he can just walk through AJ's power if it's landing regularly. But he's shown that he can at least come through some fire to shut down AJ's power output and so it has to be considered a strong possibility he does it a second time.

TFKoB got poleaxed AFTER the KD, walked through it, and engaged in the penultimate exchange.