December 7 Ruiz-Joshua card in Saudi Arabia is an amazing HW showcase

[SportsRatings]

The entire card in Saudi Arabia is pretty amazing, especially when you consider what "business as usual" was in the HW division for the last, oh, 20 years or so.

On one card, one night, you have:
- HW title fight between Joshua and Ruiz
- Perenniel top-10 Povetkin vs. top 20 Michael Hunter
- Top 10 Dillian Whyte, against Wach
- Top 20 prospect Filip Hrgovic, vs. Molina
- and finally, Mahammadrasul Majidov's 2nd pro bout, vs. Tom Little

Majidov is an Olympic bronze medalist (2012) and 2x amateur world champ, he defeated Joshua and Dychko to win those in 2011 and 2013. Maybe a bit past his peak at 33? But he's clearly trying to make a quick run as a pro; Little isn't the toughest opponent, but is unusually good for a 2nd pro fight. He will probably try to follow the career path of Kubrat Pulev, who also started late as a pro but quickly moved up. Majidov was in WSB so he was already at least "semi-pro"

Can't remember the last card where there were 5 heavyweight bouts I was interested in seeing. I can hardly remember the last card that had 5 HW bouts, period!

[drunkenpiper36]

It’s definitely a great heavyweight card

[bigman1968]

Best HW card I remember, and I'm over 50yo-)

[lazboy]

I’m not knocking it at all. Seems like a great night on paper. Given they’re heavyweights, I hope DAZN has a few backup fights or a ufc stream, (maybe a replay of Nate Diaz) to rely on if fights are over within a round or two.

[Boxtune]

Dilliyan whyte isn't Top 10, because his last 3 fights should be no contest. And we have to see if he is anything when come clean and PED Free.

[Enlightened-One]

The entire card in Saudi Arabia is pretty amazing, especially when you consider what "business as usual" was in the HW division for the last, oh, 20 years or so.

On one card, one night, you have:
- HW title fight between Joshua and Ruiz
- Perenniel top-10 Povetkin vs. top 20 Michael Hunter
- Top 10 Dillian Whyte, against Wach
- Top 20 prospect Filip Hrgovic, vs. Molina
- and finally, Mahammadrasul Majidov's 2nd pro bout, vs. Tom Little

Majidov is an Olympic bronze medalist (2012) and 2x amateur world champ, he defeated Joshua and Dychko to win those in 2011 and 2013. Maybe a bit past his peak at 33? But he's clearly trying to make a quick run as a pro; Little isn't the toughest opponent, but is unusually good for a 2nd pro fight. He will probably try to follow the career path of Kubrat Pulev, who also started late as a pro but quickly moved up. Majidov was in WSB so he was already at least "semi-pro"

Can't remember the last card where there were 5 heavyweight bouts I was interested in seeing. I can hardly remember the last card that had 5 HW bouts, period!

Sky Box Office have increased the PPV price for this event, from £19.95 to £24.95 (a 25% change).

Sky are also exploiting the early start time for this event, which will be broadcast from 5pm, with the ring walk for the main event commencing around 10pm (UK time). So they’re hoping to cash in on a huge audience.

This huge price hike has to be justified, hence the moderately impressive undercard (mostly one-sided bouts).

Anyway, here’s a list of my predictions for the winners of Saturday nights’ Matchroom fight card in Saudi:

• Anthony Joshua
• Michael Hunter
• Filip Hrgovic
• Dillian Whyte
• Mahammadrasul Majidov
• Ivan 'Hopey' Price
• Diego Pacheco

Note: I keep flip-flopping on my prediction for the winner of the main event. I can't help thinking something controversial is going to happen (i.e. dodgy scorecards, the ref won't allow Ruiz Jr. to fight on the inside [as per the AJ-Parker bout], the Mexican will be stopped prematurely to the point it'll be considered an horrendous stoppage etc.).

[SportsRatings]

This huge price hike has to be justified, hence the moderately impressive undercard (mostly one-sided bouts).

Sadly, most heavyweight fights scheduled are one-sided bouts....this one is lucky to have 2 that are fairly "pick'em" as far as the division goes.

And I would be disappointed if the underdogs won against Whyte, Hrgovic, or Majidov, as I want to see the favorites mix it up in the near future!

[SportsRatings]

Best HW card I remember, and I'm over 50yo-)

Here's one that probably tops it, as all 6 fighters were top 10:
May 20, 1983, Las Vegas:

Larry Holmes vs. Tim Witherspoon
Michael Dokes vs. Mike Weaver
Renaldo Snipes vs. Greg Page

AND, all 3 were title fights, for different organizations! Holmes defended the WBC title, Dokes retained the WBA title (with a draw), and Page took the USBA title.

Ossie Ocasio also fought on the card.

[Heretic]

Aj vs Ruiz is the best fight in a long time. Winner will be the number 1 HW in the world. This is the most exited I have been for oncoming HW fight for long long time. It is a real pickem fight too. I am leaning towards Ruiz but won't be surprised if AJ finds a way to win it.

Hunter vs Povetkin is good fight. I am not too much fan of the old guy vs new guy fights but this one is intriguing.

Whyte vs Wach is just bad. Wach is totally over the hill and I can give 20 names off the hat for better opponent for Whyte.

Hrgovic vs Molina is pretty ok. Molina is good step for upcoming prospects. Hrgovic is good enough that he could take a bigger step already. This feels like threading water.

So on my books there is two good fights. Which is much better than the 0 we usually get

[morm]

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

The main event and hunter vs povetkin are great

The rest we know the outcome already

[SportsRatings]

The main event and hunter vs povetkin are great

The rest we know the outcome already

I agree, but I think there's value in the other fights too.

- Whyte has no obligation to be fighting at all, yet he's staying active. Most other HW of the past 2 decades would stay idle until they got their title shot, if they were in his position.

-Hrgovic is still in the single-digits in terms of # of fights, so Molina isn't a bad matchup. At this point it's a good introduction to Hrgovic for most people.

-Majidov is really making his debut as a pro, so I'm glad to see him on the card (I don't think this fight is part of the broadcast though)

Overall, seeing fighters in the HW division stay active is always good. Too many HW over the last decades went inactive and got out of shape. And yes, maybe I'm too happy about this card and judging it in relation to all the terrible cards with 1 decent fight or no decent fights, but I think things are going in the right direction and have been for a couple years now.

[danconnollyeire]

The entire card in Saudi Arabia is pretty dirty, especially when you consider what "business as usual" was in the HW division for the last, oh, 20 years or so.

On one card, one night, you have:
- HW title fight between Joshua and Ruiz, in the only known clean fight of the evening
- Perenniel top-10 and convicted drugs cheat Povetkin vs. top 20 Michael Hunter
- Top 10 convicted drugs cheat (possibly twice) Dillian Whyte, against convicted drugs cheat Wach
- Top 20 prospect Filip Hrgovic, vs. convicted a drugs cheat Molina
- and finally, Mahammadrasul Majidov, a fighter even his own mother would struggle to remember 2nd pro bout, vs. Tom Little in a fight literally nobody cares about

Majidov is an Olympic bronze medalist (2012) and 2x amateur world champ, he defeated Joshua and Dychko to win those in 2011 and 2013. Maybe a bit past his peak at 33? But he's clearly trying to make a quick run as a pro; Little isn't the toughest opponent, but is unusually good for a 2nd pro fight. He will probably try to follow the career path of Kubrat Pulev, who also started late as a pro but quickly moved up. Majidov was in WSB so he was already at least "semi-pro"

Can't remember the last card where there were 4 heavyweight drug cheating bouts I was interested in seeing. I can hardly remember the last card that had 4 druggie bouts, period!

Hi Eddie, I reworded your post

[Gnome]

The entire card in Saudi Arabia is pretty dirty, especially when you consider what "business as usual" was in the HW division for the last, oh, 20 years or so.

On one card, one night, you have:
- HW title fight between Joshua and Ruiz, in the only known clean fight of the evening
- Perenniel top-10 and convicted drugs cheat Povetkin vs. top 20 Michael Hunter
- Top 10 convicted drugs cheat (possibly twice) Dillian Whyte, against convicted drugs cheat Wach
- Top 20 prospect Filip Hrgovic, vs. convicted a drugs cheat Molina
- and finally, Mahammadrasul Majidov, a fighter even his own mother would struggle to remember 2nd pro bout, vs. Tom Little in a fight literally nobody cares about

Majidov is an Olympic bronze medalist (2012) and 2x amateur world champ, he defeated Joshua and Dychko to win those in 2011 and 2013. Maybe a bit past his peak at 33? But he's clearly trying to make a quick run as a pro; Little isn't the toughest opponent, but is unusually good for a 2nd pro fight. He will probably try to follow the career path of Kubrat Pulev, who also started late as a pro but quickly moved up. Majidov was in WSB so he was already at least "semi-pro"

Can't remember the last card where there were 4 heavyweight drug cheating bouts I was interested in seeing. I can hardly remember the last card that had 4 druggie bouts, period!

Hi Eddie, I reworded your post

I'm not Eddie and I'm looking forward to it

[margaret thatcher]

Tyson Fury, Luis Ortiz, and Miller are drug cheats too, if you can't enjoy a fight cus a guy got caught with PEDs than HW aint the division for you

[margaret thatcher]

The entire card in Saudi Arabia is pretty dirty, especially when you consider what "business as usual" was in the HW division for the last, oh, 20 years or so.

On one card, one night, you have:
- HW title fight between Joshua and Ruiz, in the only known clean fight of the evening
- Perenniel top-10 and convicted drugs cheat Povetkin vs. top 20 Michael Hunter
- Top 10 convicted drugs cheat (possibly twice) Dillian Whyte, against convicted drugs cheat Wach
- Top 20 prospect Filip Hrgovic, vs. convicted a drugs cheat Molina
- and finally, Mahammadrasul Majidov, a fighter even his own mother would struggle to remember 2nd pro bout, vs. Tom Little in a fight literally nobody cares about

Majidov is an Olympic bronze medalist (2012) and 2x amateur world champ, he defeated Joshua and Dychko to win those in 2011 and 2013. Maybe a bit past his peak at 33? But he's clearly trying to make a quick run as a pro; Little isn't the toughest opponent, but is unusually good for a 2nd pro fight. He will probably try to follow the career path of Kubrat Pulev, who also started late as a pro but quickly moved up. Majidov was in WSB so he was already at least "semi-pro"

Can't remember the last card where there were 4 heavyweight drug cheating bouts I was interested in seeing. I can hardly remember the last card that had 4 druggie bouts, period!

Hi Eddie, I reworded your post

Have Little or Majidov been caught on the PEDs? Wach-Whyte, Molina-Hrg, Pov-Hunter.....what is the 4th heavyweight drug cheating bout

[margaret thatcher]

Hi Eddie, I reworded your post

I'm not Eddie and I'm looking forward to it

Same, Ruiz-AJ 2 is one of the most interesting fights out there and Pov-Hunter is good too. A bit interested to see Majidov as a pro too since I watched him score some big wins in the ams.

[SportsRatings]

The entire card in Saudi Arabia is pretty dirty, especially when you consider what "business as usual" was in the HW division for the last, oh, 20 years or so.

On one card, one night, you have:
- HW title fight between Joshua and Ruiz, in the only known clean fight of the evening
- Perenniel top-10 and convicted drugs cheat Povetkin vs. top 20 Michael Hunter
- Top 10 convicted drugs cheat (possibly twice) Dillian Whyte, against convicted drugs cheat Wach
- Top 20 prospect Filip Hrgovic, vs. convicted a drugs cheat Molina
- and finally, Mahammadrasul Majidov, a fighter even his own mother would struggle to remember 2nd pro bout, vs. Tom Little in a fight literally nobody cares about

Majidov is an Olympic bronze medalist (2012) and 2x amateur world champ, he defeated Joshua and Dychko to win those in 2011 and 2013. Maybe a bit past his peak at 33? But he's clearly trying to make a quick run as a pro; Little isn't the toughest opponent, but is unusually good for a 2nd pro fight. He will probably try to follow the career path of Kubrat Pulev, who also started late as a pro but quickly moved up. Majidov was in WSB so he was already at least "semi-pro"

Can't remember the last card where there were 4 heavyweight drug cheating bouts I was interested in seeing. I can hardly remember the last card that had 4 druggie bouts, period!

Hi Eddie, I reworded your post

Fair enough, but the great 1990s had a lot more PED use and no testing. Was there any fight that decade that was clean?

[danconnollyeire]

Hi Eddie, I reworded your post

Fair enough, but the great 1990s had a lot more PED use and no testing. Was there any fight that decade that was clean?

So? Becuase people cheatedd once it's ok for cheating the be the norm now?

[funso banjo baby]

good bill

but this location is another addition to the toilet water that boxing is.

this race to the bottom is nauseating
the promoters are scum

and Joshua has shown how thick he is in trying to defend this fascist country of which he knows absolutely nothing about and wouldn't understand anyway.

embarrassing stuff to be treated like wrestling...and its not the linear world title anyway so dosent really warrant 'historic' in any meaningful sense. its just another low mark

I hope he loses via average punch to his glass jaw again or gasses like an asthmatic oak

replies not necessary