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

[Stuarty]

I hate that fat wank but i need to agree! Ruiz chipped away but he was going through the motions! Zero desire there! I wouldn't be surprised if we never saw him box again unless its an immediate rematch for the decider.....

Can’t see it happening. Ruiz ain’t no Marquez and AJ is Pac-Man. No desire for a third, plus mandatories. The only way a third fight happens is if Ruiz beats fury and Usyk or something and becomes mandatory... ain’t happening

You're probably right aye but with Wilder and Fury apparently going ahead in Feb then who's left? Does he wait till at least next summer for the winner of that? Fight an easy touch in the meantime? Go over old ground? I didn't think he'd fight Ruiz again anyway, i just meant that if it conspired that Ruiz was offered a third fight then he'd probably take it... Other than that i can see him wrapping it and enjoying his grub and his money

Who is mandatory for AJ now anyway? Also who's a decent voluntary? Whyte in Spring wouldn't surprise me at all!

[rd350lc]

You need to get a sense of humour mate , it was a play on words with the " stay humble " Joshua thing .

My quote was from Bricktop in Snatch. So I was joking, too. And the 'humbled' thing was my play on words, too. So get your own sense of humour

So no malice intended. It was a good night of boxing, so let's all be friends.

never seen it , agreed good night of boxing

[Stuarty]

If AJ v Wilder/Fury winner is gonna happen then realistically it's not happening until the end of next year!

[margaret thatcher]

No way are Wilder and Fury pretty much sure things vs AJ. And remember Ruiz lost to someon AJ already widely beat, it's not so simple as 'well this guy lost to that opponent, and the new opponent is even better, so this guy will defo lose'

[gilgamesh]

No way are Wilder and Fury pretty much sure things vs AJ. And remember Ruiz lost to someon AJ already widely beat, it's not so simple as 'well this guy lost to that opponent, and the new opponent is even better, so this guy will defo lose'

Styles make fights.

I can see Ruiz giving Wilder lots of problems for instance, I don't imagine Ruiz would give Fury hardly any problems at all, but on the flip of that I think that AJ would have more difficulty with Wilder than he would with Fury.

[Bard of Boxrec]

No way are Wilder and Fury pretty much sure things vs AJ. And remember Ruiz lost to someon AJ already widely beat, it's not so simple as 'well this guy lost to that opponent, and the new opponent is even better, so this guy will defo lose'

Styles make fights.

I can see Ruiz giving Wilder lots of problems for instance, I don't imagine Ruiz would give Fury hardly any problems at all, but on the flip of that I think that AJ would have more difficulty with Wilder than he would with Fury.

Like you I used to be an advocate of AJ stopping fury but - and I never thought I’d say this - I’m not entirely sure now. Fury has shown he can survive big power vs wilder so AJ wouldn’t be able to just bomb him out I don’t think.

AJ vs Wilder would be fun. I think AJ’s better fundamentals make him favourite to land first.

[gilgamesh]

Styles make fights.

I can see Ruiz giving Wilder lots of problems for instance, I don't imagine Ruiz would give Fury hardly any problems at all, but on the flip of that I think that AJ would have more difficulty with Wilder than he would with Fury.

Like you I used to be an advocate of AJ stopping fury but - and I never thought I’d say this - I’m not entirely sure now. Fury has shown he can survive big power vs wilder so AJ wouldn’t be able to just bomb him out I don’t think.

AJ vs Wilder would be fun. I think AJ’s better fundamentals make him favourite to land first.

I don't think AJ would need to bomb him out exactly. I don't think it's out of the question that he could outwork Fury. I don't think he's more skilled than Fury, but he's more active, and seems to have a better understand that when he's in the ring it's a fight, not a show. Fury might give rounds away just by being himself. AJ can take those rounds, and if he hurts him or drops him a time or two. You have the possibility of him taking a decision.

Fury outboxing him certainly isn't out of the question, but Fury the master boxer who is a sure thing to win a UD against everybody if he don't get knocked out don't exist.

[danconnollyeire]

There was one simple reason the fight was like it was tonight. AJ trained like a pro and adapted, Ruiz didn’t bother. Fair play, AJ is a professional athlete and should be respected

[Grilling Machine]

I've never thought that McCall beating Lewis was a fluke, and I think he had the ability to repeat it, but inasmuch as he didn't turn up mentally for the rematch, you could say that it's comparable to this fight.

In other words, I think there's a ton of nuance that gets in the way of calling most fights a fluke. Else you could say it was a fluke for Lewis that McCall had his demons. A fluke for Joshua that Ruiz had his doughnuts.

[KiwiRider]

I think AJ hurt his right hand early in this fight.

We thought that too, until AJ landed a banger overhand in the 11th.

[oogiebe]

I think AJ hurt his right hand early in this fight.

We thought that too, until AJ landed a banger overhand in the 11th.

Yup, same here. I was like, "where has that been?"

[KiwiRider]

There was one simple reason the fight was like it was tonight. AJ trained like a pro and adapted, Ruiz didn’t bother. Fair play, AJ is a professional athlete and should be respected

I think it showed how badly he wanted the belts back. Not prepared to risk anything.

[Onetimeonly]

There was one simple reason the fight was like it was tonight. AJ trained like a pro and adapted, Ruiz didn’t bother. Fair play, AJ is a professional athlete and should be respected

I think it showed how badly he wanted the belts back. Not prepared to risk anything.

Exactly, even more than the belts I think the embarrassment of losing to Ruiz. He'll easily beat pulev and go for it against wilder or fury. I imagine this is a one off style wise.

[KiwiRider]

I think it showed how badly he wanted the belts back. Not prepared to risk anything.

Exactly, even more than the belts I think the embarrassment of losing to Ruiz. He'll easily beat pulev and go for it against wilder or fury. I imagine this is a one off style wise.

It would be an acceptable game plan against Usyk, maybe with a higher workrate.
But your right I think, it wouldn't be too successful against the likes of Wilder or Fury, possibly Whyte- except he already knows he can KO him.

[nmhz]

Exactly, even more than the belts I think the embarrassment of losing to Ruiz. He'll easily beat pulev and go for it against wilder or fury. I imagine this is a one off style wise.

It would be an acceptable game plan against Usyk, maybe with a higher workrate.
But your right I think, it wouldn't be too successful against the likes of Wilder or Fury, possibly Whyte- except he already knows he can KO him.

This style may work to AJ’s favour against Wilder

[KiwiRider]

It would be an acceptable game plan against Usyk, maybe with a higher workrate.
But your right I think, it wouldn't be too successful against the likes of Wilder or Fury, possibly Whyte- except he already knows he can KO him.

This style may work to AJ’s favour against Wilder

He doesn't have the chin to go 12 with Wilder. And he isn't going to avoid the bomb for 36 minutes.
I don't know what the Wilder gameplan would be, but I doubt it would involve trying to box to a decision.

[Onetimeonly]

This style may work to AJ’s favour against Wilder

He doesn't have the chin to go 12 with Wilder. And he isn't going to avoid the bomb for 36 minutes.
I don't know what the Wilder gameplan would be, but I doubt it would involve trying to box to a decision.

if he fought like that against wilder he'd get splattered. He's got to get wilder before wilder gets him. No need to brush fury aside twice just yet.

[ILikeBeer]

Does it count as being humble, if you tell everyone in the world how humble you are post-fight?

[Finkel]

Just sat through this. I had it 116-112 for Joshua. Only round 8 was clearly Ruiz then another three close rounds where I sided with the champ.

I do tend to ignore shots that merely touch the target rather than punch through it though.

Clear win for Joshua.

Having said that I thought the judge who gave it 119-109 was taking the piss a bit. Joshua was the challenger after all.

[Old bones Ian]

How long till we see the newspaper reports of Ruiz blowing all his money.

[Finkel]

I'm not sure how much I can trust those compubox punch stats.
Take round 3 for example:

Joshua was riding or parrying a lot of Ruiz's body punches early on, but he was still getting caught by Ruiz downstairs.
They give Ruiz 1 jab.
Okay I guess they want to see solid shots...

Joshua lands two solid jabs and a left hook to the body.
They give Joshua 3 jabs and 2 power shots.

[KiwiRider]

How long till we see the newspaper reports of Ruiz blowing all his money.

His dad's life probably helps him see reason. Andy would have grown up seeing decent money coming in, and then not.
If he hasn't learned from that, plus all those previous HW champs who ended up broke, more fool him.

[Muttley]

Ian John Lewis just butchered 2 fights in a row. Get to fvck you bald turtle looking loser.

Ian has been a ref for many years and maybe it is time for him to retire but I remember him a tough fighter and decent fella in his day so can we please have a bit of respect?

[ShadrachSimmo]

How long till we see the newspaper reports of Ruiz blowing all his money.

It could defo happen. The Mexican Michael Carroll.

[MightyWarrior]

Cant understand it.. heavy weight world championship on the line and the fat f*ck comes in even fatter? How is that possible...
Heard commentators say his team wanted him to start camp earlier but he turned up in September?

Don’t understand all the bafflement. He could have turned up in the best shape of his life, he just isn’t as good as AJ. Not difficult to comprehend. Why is everyone so puzzled? The first fight was a fluke.

Good call mate, exactly as predicted - Ruiz dressing room before the fight looked like a morgue, you could see his trainer was pissed & thinking this guy hasn’t trained...Well he waddled through 12 rounds and showed an iron chin, but a masterclass from Joshua.

He can box and he can punch, and that Chin makes it all the more exciting - and no way can we be sure that Wilder will do him, he could easily put Wilder bang in trouble