BoxRec

A whopping 84% voted for AJ in the first fight.
After reading the posts today, it seems a lot of people have completely changed their mind about Joshua.

Before the first fight I predicted that Ruiz would do better than predicted and better than Parker did against Joshua.

Nevertheless I stil predicted Joshua winning and inside the distance.

I am still predicting a Joshua KO win

It depends on Joshua's abilites to improve. He has shown improvements through his career, but not all his flaws were fixed. So, it's hard to predict the situation in this case. If they meet without anything changed, the outcome we'll be the same.

DrDuke wrote: ↑02 Jun 2019, 07:48 It depends on Joshua's abilites to improve. He has shown improvements through his career, but not all his flaws were fixed. So, it's hard to predict the situation in this case. If they meet without anything changed, the outcome we'll be the same.

I don't think he needs to improve, the tactics of the first 2 rounds were good, then he knocked Ruiz down in the third, dived in to finish it, got caught, everyone has a plan untill they get caught, and never really recovered.

That's boxing for you.

I think AJ should use the tactics from the first 2 rounds, and I think that will be enough to win.

ive gone for AJ by ko but some boxers should stay away from a certain boxer. If AJ couldnt deal with the smaller guy it might be an issue again next fight.

I wasn't surprised to see Ruiz KOing Joshua at all. Joshua was exposed there and looked like he had no clue what to do. He was too robotic and Ruiz's fast hands were just too much. He can beat Ruiz but it's low percentage stuff and he needs to fight the absolute perfect fight. I don't think it's going to happen and I'd take Ruiz to beat him again.

I genuinely enjoyed seeing Joshua getting exposed on the highest stage as I've said for a long time he is very overrated.

I clicked Ruiz KO in the poll for yesterday's fight and I'm clicking Ruiz KO for the rematch.

Thinking that Joshua can show something new in the rematch is like thinking that Mike Tyson could show something new in the Holyfield rematch. This is not an adaptable boxer in my view.

I voted for an AJ KO as I think Ruiz is going to eat himself even bigger like Buster Douglas did after his massive upset!!

What Joshua needs,he'd have it by now if he was ever gonna get it

He doesn't

Ruiz KO again

Same result. The speed is the kryptonite that exposes his limited defence and boxing skills.

Joshua is not on Ruiz level. Ruiz would make easier work of him in a rematch.

Joshua is just a limited fighter

Very limited

Big shot,other than that he is still very very green at times,look at the way he put his hands to his head & went into panic mode a true fighter would be much more composed under attack than that there

I'd probably go with a Ruiz ko again he punched with AJ and made AJ gas I see the same happening again . I think AJ could outbox Ruiz but I don't think he has the control to do a it his style has always been to come forward throwing big shots but that didn't work so he'd have to judge the distance a lot better and make Ruiz miss rather than the other way round which was what we see

People keep saying even now Ruiz is just a fat bum. He can fight and he can take a punch, and nobody has KOd him yet so he isn't a bum, but yes he is fat . Lose to him again and AJ has nowhere to go. I cant see AJ doing better in a rematch, he will get caught again and his career will be over. To talk about fighting Wilder is ridiculous and without the belts Wilder would laugh at him.

I’d take AJ via KO.

There was something obviously up with him before the first bell even rung.
He caught him in the 3rd and went for the finish. He got too close and got caught with a shot he didn’t fully recover from.
When he kept it at range behind the jab he looked the better fighter.

Concerns I have about AJ are he clearly has stamina issues. In the amateurs he was a fantastic athlete. Why not in the pro’s? Personally I think it’s because he carries to much muscle.
Also the chin. Ruiz is NOT a hard puncher and IMO would struggle to KO anyone else in the Top 10.
Solution for this one is simple. Keep it long.
If AJ went to finish Ruiz from range with Long straight punches he would of.
Instead he went close and threw hooks. Ruiz threw at the same time and was landing first.
AJ has been excellent for a big man on the inside in his previous fights. He can’t win a fight there against Ruiz.

Worst thing AJ can do is get rid of McCracken. He listens to him and Rob is a top coach.
If he looks at his cardio, is fully fit and keeps it long I’d pick AJ via KO.

Ruiz on the other hand has one simple objective.
KEEP FIT.
Someone joked about Buster Douglas after Tyson.
I can easily see Ruiz with his AJ money blowing up in weight and cutting corners.

Saturday clearly showed the weaknesses of one fighter and the strengths of the other.

I’m expecting AJ to have changed his structure outside the ropes.
This could be a distraction.
If AJ the boxer took a hit on Saturday then AJ the brand took a bigger hit.
Sky will be happy because the rematch will be huge.
Endorsements won’t be happy as losing to someone who looks like Ruiz isn’t great PR.
Being the first Heavyweight with a huge social media presence doesn’t help. All the great Heavyweights have been able to be risk averse at times and coast to easy/boring decisions.
AJ did it once against Parker and the AJ brand took a hit.
He needs to separate AJ the brand and boxer now.
Otherwise he could win the rematch, suddenly the AJ redemption story becomes huge. He gets more endorsements again and bulks up and does a load of media work.
This takes him back to the Pre-Ruiz square one.

This is when we find out if AJ is mentally strong enough to learn and adapt.
But it’s hard to learn and dedicate yourself to a craft when your already a multi-millionaire with other interests.

Personally I hope he does it.

Until convinced otherwise, I think AJ is mentally done.

Joshua by points at home. Will box to orders and stay out of range with a few scary moments

No wonder teams protect their 0 like it is their nutsac.

I'm not convinced it happens.

I have at least a suspicion that AJ chooses to retire. He's been world champ and made an absolute fortune. At the same time he has been exposed somewhat by a more experienced and skilled fighter.

They will save face by inventing some undisclosed medical reason or other.

We'll see, but I wouldn't be sure AJ thinks he can beat Ruiz.

It wasn't a lucky punch .... he didn't have the bottle, and he's so muscle-bound that top opponents know he will gas now. There is a clear enough blueprint to beat AJ now, and Wilder or Fury would be licking their lips (and AJ knows).

Loftgroov wrote: ↑03 Jun 2019, 17:22 I'm not convinced it happens.

I have at least a suspicion that AJ chooses to retire. He's been world champ and made an absolute fortune. At the same time he has been exposed somewhat by a more experienced and skilled fighter.

They will save face by inventing some undisclosed medical reason or other.

We'll see, but I wouldn't be sure AJ thinks he can beat Ruiz.

It wasn't a lucky punch .... he didn't have the bottle, and he's so muscle-bound that top opponents know he will gas now. There is a clear enough blueprint to beat AJ now, and Wilder or Fury would be licking their lips (and AJ knows).

Fair points. At this point, nothing would surprise me.

Btw I won't surprise in the case of Joshua retiring too. I remember, he was talking about himself as a prizefighter first. He has already earned quite some amount of money. He can at least take a hiatus.

If AJ retired I would thank him and wish him the best.

ironbeard wrote: ↑03 Jun 2019, 17:42 If AJ retired I would thank him and wish him the best.

Truly. I have no ill will towards AJ. Seems a stand up guy. I really think he has much to think about moving forward. I'm sure he'll make the right decision for himself and his family. (mom).

ajs such a waste of a fighter, has never even been close to the level of a beast like ruiz, with this 1 loss aj may as well retire....hes a fraud who never really won anything of note and got exposed as lower top 10 at best

jamamb wrote: ↑03 Jun 2019, 18:01 ajs such a waste of a fighter, has never even been close to the level of a beast like ruiz, with this 1 loss aj may as well retire

LOL! Seriously thought, you have to admit that AJ needs to go back and see what he wants to do moving forward. He acted relieved in a lot of ways. Of course he can come back strong, of course he beats most every HW out there (still), but does he really want it?

jamamb wrote: ↑03 Jun 2019, 18:01 ajs such a waste of a fighter, has never even been close to the level of a beast like ruiz, with this 1 loss aj may as well retire....hes a fraud who never really won anything of note and got exposed as lower top 10 at best

84% of us voted for Joshua in the original poll...but we all knew he was rubbish