Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Anthony Joshua II - 7 December 2019

[Controversial]

Joseph Parker said Whyte and Ruiz both punched harder than AJ.

I can see Ruiz doing it again assuming he's trained properly and not turned into Buster Douglas and neglected his training. His hand speed, chin and stamina all looked better than AJ and he is a more natural fighter. Ruiz took the first fight at short notice so excuses can be made than AJ didn't prepare for Ruiz but the same argument can be made that Ruiz wasn't training to fight AJ. Ruiz wasn't in as good condition as AJ was in the first fight so if he comes in in better shape AJ could be in for a tough night.

Looking forward to it. I hope AJ wins but not sure its going to be easy. AJ can try and changed things but he hasn't had long to do that and when fighters are hurt then tend to revert to type, that could be key.

[danconnollyeire]

Joseph Parker said Whyte and Ruiz both punched harder than AJ.

I can see Ruiz doing it again assuming he's trained properly and not turned into Buster Douglas and neglected his training. His hand speed, chin and stamina all looked better than AJ and he is a more natural fighter. Ruiz took the first fight at short notice so excuses can be made than AJ didn't prepare for Ruiz but the same argument can be made that Ruiz wasn't training to fight AJ. Ruiz wasn't in as good condition as AJ was in the first fight so if he comes in in better shape AJ could be in for a tough night.

Looking forward to it. I hope AJ wins but not sure its going to be easy. AJ can try and changed things but he hasn't had long to do that and when fighters are hurt then tend to revert to type, that could be key.

I mean, as critical I've been of AJ lately, Parker must be having a laugh. Maybe it's because AJ didn't throw bombs against him but Ruiz and Whyte definitely don't hit harder than AJ. AJ wiped out Kevin Johnson, Raphael Zumbano who Ruiz beat on point

[Controversial]

Joseph Parker said Whyte and Ruiz both punched harder than AJ.

I can see Ruiz doing it again assuming he's trained properly and not turned into Buster Douglas and neglected his training. His hand speed, chin and stamina all looked better than AJ and he is a more natural fighter. Ruiz took the first fight at short notice so excuses can be made than AJ didn't prepare for Ruiz but the same argument can be made that Ruiz wasn't training to fight AJ. Ruiz wasn't in as good condition as AJ was in the first fight so if he comes in in better shape AJ could be in for a tough night.

Looking forward to it. I hope AJ wins but not sure its going to be easy. AJ can try and changed things but he hasn't had long to do that and when fighters are hurt then tend to revert to type, that could be key.

I mean, as critical I've been of AJ lately, Parker must be having a laugh. Maybe it's because AJ didn't throw bombs against him but Ruiz and Whyte definitely don't hit harder than AJ. AJ wiped out Kevin Johnson, Raphael Zumbano who Ruiz beat on point

It’s not always that black and white though, maybe Whyte and Ruiz landed cleaner shots on him.

[J]

Lennox wrote the blueprint for success in this fight for Joshua, against Tua.

but big Josh aint no lennox mind you Ruiz aint no Tua either..Christ it makes you realise how rich that era was, holyfield, bowe, lennox, tua, faded tyson, Ike ib, then the second tier of moorer, rahman, mcall, bruno, golota, ruddock even big george...and more.

[danconnollyeire]

I mean, as critical I've been of AJ lately, Parker must be having a laugh. Maybe it's because AJ didn't throw bombs against him but Ruiz and Whyte definitely don't hit harder than AJ. AJ wiped out Kevin Johnson, Raphael Zumbano who Ruiz beat on point

It’s not always that black and white though, maybe Whyte and Ruiz landed cleaner shots on him.

Yeah was kinda my point with the bold above

[kbackup408]

I think at this stage there is enough evidence to suggest AJ is on a 36 minute decision mission on Saturday.

[coneye]

Lennox wrote the blueprint for success in this fight for Joshua, against Tua.

but big Josh aint no lennox mind you Ruiz aint no Tua either..Christ it makes you realise how rich that era was, holyfield, bowe, lennox, tua, faded tyson, Ike ib, then the second tier of moorer, rahman, mcall, bruno, golota, ruddock even big george...and more.

That eras second tier , would rate with the best of this era

[Ruthless-RKO]

Undercard

[Ruthless-RKO]

Main event

[Wrists]

Lennox wrote the blueprint for success in this fight for Joshua, against Tua.

but big Josh aint no lennox mind you Ruiz aint no Tua either..Christ it makes you realise how rich that era was, holyfield, bowe, lennox, tua, faded tyson, Ike ib, then the second tier of moorer, rahman, mcall, bruno, golota, ruddock even big george...and more.

That eras second tier , would rate with the best of this era

Nah - I think outside of Lennox, tyson and Holyfield they were a mediocre bunch.

Fury, Wilder and AJ would beat them more often than not. Tua was essentially shit.

The revisionism around AJ now and he’s all of a sudden shit is incorrect. He’s not. And if he wins on Saturday, Ruiz isn’t all of a sudden a fat bastard either.

[Tuan_Jim]

That eras second tier , would rate with the best of this era

Nah - I think outside of Lennox, tyson and Holyfield they were a mediocre bunch.

Fury, Wilder and AJ would beat them more often than not. Tua was essentially poo.

The revisionism around AJ now and he’s all of a sudden poo is incorrect. He’s not. And if he wins on Saturday, Ruiz isn’t all of a sudden a fat bastard either.

Mediocre, ay? How do you envision Deontay Wilder beating Ike Ibeabuchi? How does Joshua beat Bowe? David Tua would never get knocked about by Andy Ruiz, that's for sure.

[Bard of Boxrec]

Nah - I think outside of Lennox, tyson and Holyfield they were a mediocre bunch.

Fury, Wilder and AJ would beat them more often than not. Tua was essentially poo.

The revisionism around AJ now and he’s all of a sudden poo is incorrect. He’s not. And if he wins on Saturday, Ruiz isn’t all of a sudden a fat bastard either.

Mediocre, ay? How do you envision Deontay Wilder beating Ike Ibeabuchi? How does Joshua beat Bowe? David Tua would never get knocked about by Andy Ruiz, that's for sure.

Tua/Ruiz would have been an intriguing fight.

[vostok]

I'm not sure he is going to risk much Oggie.
. It will be more like Lewis v Rahman 2

Unfair comparison.

Neither joshua is Lewis, nor Ruiz is Rahman.
Joshua is inadequate version of Lewis in almost every aspect/department.
Ruiz is more sound techically and speedwise, than Rahman. Counterpunching. The chin....
Maybe not hitting hard as rahman, but, has "enough pop" to hurt Joshua.

More to that, Joshua is mentally much more broken than Lewis was back then.

Referee will be the key.

İf he allows them to fight "inside"..
Then it is going to be a hell of a fight, and not looking good for AJ..
Unless Ruiz's chin gives in somehow this time..

[Tuan_Jim]

Mediocre, ay? How do you envision Deontay Wilder beating Ike Ibeabuchi? How does Joshua beat Bowe? David Tua would never get knocked about by Andy Ruiz, that's for sure.

Tua/Ruiz would have been an intriguing fight.

Which would suggest Tua is a bit better than "poo," as the previous fellow said!

[Bard of Boxrec]

I'm not sure he is going to risk much Oggie.
. It will be more like Lewis v Rahman 2

Unfair comparison.

Neither joshua is Lewis, nor Ruiz is Rahman.
Joshua is inadequate version of Lewis in almost every aspect/department.
Ruiz is more sound techically and speedwise, than Rahman. Counterpunching. The chin....
Maybe not hitting hard as rahman, but, has "enough pop" to hurt Joshua.

More to that, Joshua is mentally much more broken than Lewis was back then.

Referee will be the key.

İf he allows them to fight "inside"..
Then it is going to be a hell of a fight, and not looking good for AJ..
Unless Ruiz's chin gives in somehow this time..

This ‘mentally broken’ nonsense will be firmly put to bed on Saturday.

[polecateddy]

Nice write up for the fight in this weeks’ Boxing News. You get the sense of the best pundits and boxing journalists not really having a clue whether the loss was just a glitch or something more permanent. For me I think there’s a little bit of something missing with Joshua, and a sense that these sort of quick rematches usually just spell a 2nd defeat, usually quicker than the first.

[Ricky]

Unfair comparison.

Neither joshua is Lewis, nor Ruiz is Rahman.
Joshua is inadequate version of Lewis in almost every aspect/department.
Ruiz is more sound techically and speedwise, than Rahman. Counterpunching. The chin....
Maybe not hitting hard as rahman, but, has "enough pop" to hurt Joshua.

More to that, Joshua is mentally much more broken than Lewis was back then.

Referee will be the key.

İf he allows them to fight "inside"..
Then it is going to be a hell of a fight, and not looking good for AJ..
Unless Ruiz's chin gives in somehow this time..

This ‘mentally broken’ nonsense will be firmly put to bed on Saturday.

There's nothing wrong with AJs mentality, he simply isn't good enough a boxer to hang with Ruiz. I rewatched the fight last night, it's also a total myth that the temple shot in r3 done the trick. AJ was fully recovered from that by end of the 4th. It was a bodyshot in r6 that finished him, it emptied his tank. The finish in r7 was clearly a man... not hurt, but nothing left to give.

[dbf]

AJ is an on top fighter, he's is just not used to people properly firing back. He expected it with Klitschko but not with any other opponent.

I think he still can't deep down believe that someone like Ruiz beat him. It must have been a tough pill to swallow. He wants revenge for sure but the second Ruiz starts firing back we will see if he can mentally take it this time. I believe he will beat Ruiz but I think Ruiz doesnt go easily.

[Bard of Boxrec]

This ‘mentally broken’ nonsense will be firmly put to bed on Saturday.

There's nothing wrong with AJs mentality, he simply isn't good enough a boxer to hang with Ruiz. I rewatched the fight last night, it's also a total myth that the temple shot in r3 done the trick. AJ was fully recovered from that by end of the 4th. It was a bodyshot in r6 that finished him, it emptied his tank. The finish in r7 was clearly a man... not hurt, but nothing left to give.

[margaret thatcher]

Rahman would've beat Ruiz I think, Ruiz has become a bit overrated, it's like no one ever watched any of his other fights. Also people say Rahman-Lewis was just 1 punch, but Rahman was doing well and had hurt Lewis the round before the KO punch and landed good punches in the 2nd and 3rd. Whereas he didn't land anything in the rematch.

Lewis right after the fight "I can't believe it... there was no way Hasim Rahman could beat me"

[Stuarty]

Nah - I think outside of Lennox, tyson and Holyfield they were a mediocre bunch.

Fury, Wilder and AJ would beat them more often than not. Tua was essentially poo.

The revisionism around AJ now and he’s all of a sudden poo is incorrect. He’s not. And if he wins on Saturday, Ruiz isn’t all of a sudden a fat bastard either.

Mediocre, ay? How do you envision Deontay Wilder beating Ike Ibeabuchi? How does Joshua beat Bowe? David Tua would never get knocked about by Andy Ruiz, that's for sure.

Yip fair point. Even fringe guys like Mercer who gave Lewis hell would probably whip todays crop...

[Tuan_Jim]

Nice write up for the fight in this weeks’ Boxing News. You get the sense of the best pundits and boxing journalists not really having a clue whether the loss was just a glitch or something more permanent. For me I think there’s a little bit of something missing with Joshua, and a sense that these sort of quick rematches usually just spell a 2nd defeat, usually quicker than the first.

Yep, that is the tradition of heavyweight boxing. The bloke who won the first time wins the rematch, but quicker. This is Joshua's chance to distinguish himself from the fistic mob and put himself in the starry pantheon with special fighters Patterson, Ali, Holyfield, and Lewis (albeit against an easier opponent than the others).

[Tuan_Jim]

Mediocre, ay? How do you envision Deontay Wilder beating Ike Ibeabuchi? How does Joshua beat Bowe? David Tua would never get knocked about by Andy Ruiz, that's for sure.

Yip fair point. Even fringe guys like Mercer who gave Lewis hell would probably whip todays crop...

I don't see how Wilder would even beat Axel Schulz!

[Stuarty]

Yip fair point. Even fringe guys like Mercer who gave Lewis hell would probably whip todays crop...

I don't see how Wilder would even beat Axel Schulz!

All the top guys back then were as hard as nails, fit and more technical than Wilder. You'd obviously have to give him a punchers chance against anyone because of his freak power but he wouldn't have stayed unbeaten for long if he was around back in that era that's for sure.

[magnus]

[/quote]

I don't see how Wilder would even beat Axel Schulz!
[/quote]

Yeah, and Jimmy Thunder would be the undisputed champion, first billionaire boxer and married to Rhianna.