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

[ironbeard]

Name someone else on Earth that you believe could have gotten up from and walked through what TFKoB did that night.

Ruiz saw that right hand coming. AJ isn't Ernie Shavers.

TFKoB was hit by far more than “that right hand.” He walked through multiple HUGE shots directly after the picture perfect KD. AJ is not Wilder but he has A level HW power.

[oogiebe]

Ruiz saw that right hand coming. AJ isn't Ernie Shavers.

TFKoB was hit by far more than “that right hand.” He walked through multiple HUGE shots directly after the picture perfect KD. AJ is not Wilder but he has A level HW power.

Tough whiskers but no McCall. Don't over exaggerate. Let's see the rematch and then Ruiz vs Wilder.

[Bandog]

What makes me laugh is for a few years now I have read about the hate for Wilder, and how chinny he was, and how he would be exposed. Now, AJ is the guy that was exposed! It happens in boxing. It's OK, he will be back, because he is still young!

Anyone that says "lucky punch" is lame. Enough said. AJ over-looked Ruiz and was stupid to brawl with him inside.

Like the old saying goes, styles make fights. If Ruiz was fighting Wilder, Wilder would probably be a 20-1 favorite. Hell, I think Ortiz would be favored against Ruiz. That's why they fight the fights!

[oogiebe]

What makes me laugh is for a few years now I have read about the hate for Wilder, and how chinny he was, and how he would be exposed. Now, AJ is the guy that was exposed! It happens in boxing. It's OK, he will be back, because he is still young!

Anyone that says "lucky punch" is lame. Enough said. AJ over-looked Ruiz and was stupid to brawl with him inside.

Like the old saying goes, styles make fights. If Ruiz was fighting Wilder, Wilder would probably be a 20-1 favorite. Hell, I think Ortiz would be favored against Ruiz. That's why they fight the fights!

Ruiz vs Ortiz would be a good scrap.

[diddy]

Lucky punch?

No dummy, you put him in position to land it by wildly exchanging in search of a KO. 100% YOUR fault.

[Enlightened-One]

More AJ quotables. The more he talks ,the more I believe that Ruiz will crush him in the rematch. His is a very mentally fragile individual.

During his interview on AJ: The Untold Truth, an on-demand special on Sky Sports, Joshua explained how he lost to Ruiz.

"By a lucky punch. By a punch sent by the gods," Joshua said.

"I don't know what concussion is, but for sure, after the fight I didn't know what round [the fight was stopped]. So I'm just shocked it took Ruiz Jr another four rounds to get me out. Let me concuss Ruiz Jr - he won't get back up.

"Ruiz Jr got hit by a flash knock-down - he was still raw, he wasn't well-done, he wasn't cooked yet. I should have left him a little bit longer. But the instinct in me was: 'Boom!' I ended up getting caught with a left hook on the top of the head. He ain't that skilful. He's a good fighter."

Some of the recent media quotes I’ve seen from AJ recently have been uncharacteristically weird and aggressive.

Whether he’s intentionally employing trash-talking tactics to promote the bout or if he’s struggling to contain his real persona, resulting in his genuine thoughts being disclosed to the media, is something we won’t find out for quite some time.

One thing is for sure though, if Anthony Joshua genuinely believes that Andy Ruiz Jr. simply managed to land a lottery ticket winning punch, then this would be a monumental mistake.

Andy Ruiz Jr’s shots connected on Anthony Joshua’s chin during the second round and they hurt the Brit. Every time the AJ over-committed with the cross, he was countered by a barrage of powerful counter-hooks thrown by the Mexican-American.

One of the most significant things I noticed during the Joshua-Ruiz Jr. fight, was AJ’s inability or flat-refusal to abide by Robert McCracken’s excellent orders. This is something that should not be ignored, because the Brit's game plan for the fight was already perfect, except for the fact that Joshua was unable to execute it.

For sure, AJ possesses the sort of one-punch knock-out blow capable of stopping any opponent very early, which means it's entirely possible that he'll beat Andy Ruiz Jr. within a few rounds, but if the outcome of their rematch is determined on pure pugilistic skills, then Andy Ruiz Jr. gains another victory, barring any dodgy judges’ scorecards.

[kbackup408]

I am so glad I wasn't on board the AJ hype train - his PR team has done a great job in making him look like a clown

Ruiz comprehensively beat AJ, full stop.

[fanman]

well, aj is constantly being interviewed by the media and he has to say something, and it's not always going to make sense. especially as he forms a narrative that he overlooked ruiz, etc.

i don't believe in lucky punches. but still, what was lewis rahman 1. would that have normally happened with a well prepared lewis.
similarly, aj did rush in to finish ruiz and got caught, from which he never recovered.
is it possible that aj can put a total clinic on ruiz and knock him out in the rematch? will it be a more even back and forth affair. or will aj just be unable to keep ruiz off of him?

we will see. but it seems reasonable for aj to form a narrative in his mind, that puts him in the best possible light. and if he is more cautious, his height and reach may well enable him to walk ruiz onto a big one without sustaining serious damage.

[ironbeard]

TFKoB was hit by far more than “that right hand.” He walked through multiple HUGE shots directly after the picture perfect KD. AJ is not Wilder but he has A level HW power.

Tough whiskers but no McCall. Don't over exaggerate. Let's see the rematch and then Ruiz vs Wilder.

Over exaggerate? Gfy oogiebe.

[oogiebe]

Tough whiskers but no McCall. Don't over exaggerate. Let's see the rematch and then Ruiz vs Wilder.

Over exaggerate? Gfy oogiebe.

[sturm vogel]

Ruiz must have been VERY lucky that night. He hit AJ with many many LUCKY punches.

[ironbeard]

Over exaggerate? Gfy oogiebe.

I never compared him directly to McCall. You did. No one, including you has answered my question.

Who else could have gotten up and walked through what TFKoB did that night, and stop AJ?

[oogiebe]

Ruiz must have been VERY lucky that night. He hit AJ with many many LUCKY punches.

LOL! It's getting ludicrous at this point. I wonder what the next story will be.

[Ilya Muromets]

You really are obsessed with your criticism of AJ

Funny thing is that at first, I was really impressed with AJ's response after losing. As time has worn on he's gotten worse to the point of looking like a fool.

Same here!

[marvelous marv]

Charles Martin also thinks he was hit by one lucky punch.

[Bandog]

Amir Khan was hit by many lucky punches. He would be undefeated if not for the lucky punches!

[dagilechia]

Sometimes it sounds like luck is the only meaningful factor in boxing.

[Impractical Poster]

No such thing as a lucky punch.

Except for the one that hit AJ.

[keirw]

Lucky punch?

No dummy, you put him in position to land it by wildly exchanging in search of a KO. 100% YOUR fault.

Indeed, it was an excellent counter punch. The only 'luck' invovled (if you want to call it that) is the fact that it hit the side of his head rather than his chin, which meant it actually had more effect.

Joshua tends to tuck his chin into his shoulder to avoid getting clipped with counters, so it is possible that Ruiz could have even aimed for that spot.

[Paci]

At least talking trash works on you guys.

Who cares? Might just be a selltrick or some other marketing for the fight.

Just hoping it for a good rematch. Who wins? We'll see after the fight is over.

Would like to see how that loss changed AJ.

[Thomastearns]

Lucky punch?

No dummy, you put him in position to land it by wildly exchanging in search of a KO. 100% YOUR fault.

Indeed, it was an excellent counter punch. The only 'luck' invovled (if you want to call it that) is the fact that it hit the side of his head rather than his chin, which meant it actually had more effect.

Joshua tends to tuck his chin into his shoulder to avoid getting clipped with counters, so it is possible that Ruiz could have even aimed for that spot.

It's actually a bit of a trade mark of Ruiz's - and he'll certainly be looking to land it again in the rematch.

You can bet Joshua is 100% aware of this particular danger now. Whatever happens in the rematch, he won't be getting caught by that 'lucky' punch again.

I expect to see a faster, leaner, hungrier AJ boxing to a comfortable victory. He's probably sick of watching the Ruiz v Parker re-runs but that's what he needs to write into his DNA now.

[Evander]

AJ needs to bring some baddies to his camp to bump his attitude up a notch.

[lazboy]

AJ needs to bring some baddies to his camp to bump his attitude up a notch.

I agree, it’s time for him to model off Broner and Mayorga. I want to see AJ blow smoke at Ruiz in between rounds.

[cormack]

Yay! More AJ quotes to circle jerk his demise to

What a pathetic, mentally weak, finished abomination of a fighter. He's a total loser now, done and dusted.

counting chickens way before they hatch

[keirw]

Yay! More AJ quotes to circle jerk his demise to

What a pathetic, mentally weak, finished abomination of a fighter. He's a total loser now, done and dusted.

counting chickens way before they hatch

It is amazing how differently loses are treated in boxing compared to MMA.

Look at Stipe Miocic, he has been knocked out 3 times in his UFC career but it didn't stop him from beating an ATG at the weekend.

Yet a boxer loses one fight and people start calling him a hype job and sometimes even call for him to retire.