Should AJ change trainer?

Lennox and Warren have both said that Rob McCracken is simply not good enough.

If he did make the move who would be the right man to go to?

“I say you can’t go to university with your third-grade teacher,” said Lewis.

“They won’t have the answers you need at that level. You need a professor by then.”

Frank Warren appears to be of the same opinion.

Warren told The Telegraph: “I’ve made my views clear about the trainer. Somebody’s got to be accountable for this. I don’t like the trainer at all.

“I think his job as an amateur where he gets the best fighters given to him, everything’s been done with them.

“What’s he doing, an amateur trainer, training Joshua for professional title fights? What sparring operations is he getting? Sparring with amateurs.”

https://talksport.com/sport/boxing/5...-andy-ruiz-jr/

love that quote from Lennox. Sums it up

Blokes that always slag off AJ revel in his demise. What a surprise. Trainer gets boot. Another surprise. Lennox worked wonders for Price.

How about Virgil Hunter? Floyd Snr? FreDdie? Abel?

Tunde Ajayi? LIONS IN THE CAMP! Big up!

Good point re Lennox and Price

At the moment that's how I see AJ faring in a rematch...:-\

so Lennox Lewis and Frank Warren reckon he should change his trainer eh? 2 of the saltiest wankers I've ever heard in my life! Lennox couldn't wait to have a dig at Joshua (but do it sneakily by criticizing the trainer, then he can say "but yeah , I love AJ , it's not his fault man!" ) kind of comment @ronswanson would make! ;)
And Frank Warren , ok so he doesn't think McCracken is good enough or experienced enough, yet his guy Tyson Fury is trained by Ben Davidson !!!! (who I like btw.)
He could resurrect Cus D'Amato, Manny Steward and Angelo Dundee, roll them into one , and it still won't work if you don't do as they're telling you too! McCracken repeatedly told him to throw more jabs, double up on his jabs, and for whatever reason , he just fucking pawed it out there.
Changing trainer would be the worst thing he could possibly do. You start changing trainers , thinking there's a golden cure or solution to your problem , and when you realize there isn't you spiral the way that Haye and Khan did and keep changing trainers. Also , it's a get out isn't it? "yeah me and the trainer didn't gel, it's not my fault!"

Froch didnt have the best defence lol so maybe BUT RM is clearly a world class trainer - so would be for styles, not becuase of the quality

Thing is Froch had a granite chin AJ doesn't

Why was AJ so poor? If it was because of other reasons not boxing training related then why blame his trainer and fire him?

The AJ that beat Povetkin/Parker/Wlad would have won this fight.

Who cares ? he lost a fight, boxers are just gladiators who entertain us.
Once they become irrelevant nobody cares anymore.

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Originally Posted by Master

Why was AJ so poor?

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He bought into his own hype. Going to basketball games, being a celebrity....not everyone can do that and keep focused.


Yes he should change trainers

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Originally Posted by El Kabong

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Originally Posted by Master

Why was AJ so poor?

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He bought into his own hype. Going to basketball games, being a celebrity....not everyone can do that and keep focused.


Yes he should change trainers

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If that is all true then changing trainers will not help him. If it is his attitude and mindset then this should be a huge wake up call but I think it is something more than that. I can believe he was injured before the fight as he looked a shadow of himself in that ring. AJ has faced Ruiz type opponents before and dealt with them easily.

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Originally Posted by Master

If that is all true then changing trainers will not help him. If it is his attitude and mindset then this should be a huge wake up call but I think it is something more than that. I can believe he was injured before the fight as he looked a shadow of himself in that ring. AJ has faced Ruiz type opponents before and dealt with them easily.

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Sometimes trainers can reign that focus in. Look at Tyson with Cus & Rooney vs with anyone else. He wasn't injured, he just fought a stupid fight because he thought he was invincible. Give up height, give up reach, give counter punching opportunities galore...yeah he gave up all his advantages and Ruiz wasn't just there to lie down and this is what happens.

Train right, use height, reach, control distance and pace, tie up when hurt, and this isn't an issue at all

Povetkin was the closest to Ruiz stylewise and he broke AJs nose, wobbled him and won the opening 4 rounds.

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Originally Posted by smashup

Povetkin was the closest to Ruiz stylewise and he broke AJs nose, wobbled him and won the opening 4 rounds.

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Povetkin was at least still seemingly dangerous....Ruiz was looked at like he was a Carebear and no threat at all. Ergo AJ's willingness to give up height, reach etc.

Hippopotamuses don't LOOK dangerous but they kill a bunch of unsuspecting people and that's exactly what happened to AJ...first he's thinking "awww a chubby little hippo" and next thing you know he's been demolished.


Again the bad part is this wasn't just a 1 punch surprise or a follow up after 1 punch, this was a nightmare on repeat.....this will seriously damage AJ's career. He won't be the same fighter in that he'll probably never have that confidence to color outside the lines in a fight ever again. He's going to have to turn himself into a robot in order to get back to being the best. That's a hard mountain to scale.

Yes is the answer to this question. No need for over analysis on that one. I think it's obvious he does


also surprised to hear that after getting bounced off the canvas 4 times, suffering concussion and taking a sustained beating Joshua was ahead on one of the cards at the time of the stoppage so the fix was in regardless as it was with Katie Taylor n josh Kelly earlier in the night who got saved by dodgy scorecards

Quickest way to know if you need a new trainer is to ask the trainer to assess what went wrong and listen to his answer. From the way it looks Joshua had no idea what hit him. He started thinking he would obviously control the distance due to power and reach. Ruiz literally had to just stand there really and wait for Joshua to tee off and then punch with him. Ruiz got the worst of the first one and the best of the second. After that Ruiz knew he had it if he just kept punching. This may always be in Joshua's head no matter when the rematch is. The question is whether Joshua is willing to face his demon and do what he needs to do. Train focused and fight mercilessly like he believes something was taken from him that he wasn't done with yet. Ive see him do interviews about giving back to the youth and etc. sounding like he already planned his exit. He's a nice guy that you hope everything works out for in life... but this is boxing and while you're on the clock its either you or the other guy. Joshua has to be willing to pump that jab into Ruiz's melon till its pulp, Throw his hook after his jab and cross to catch Ruiz jumping in. On the inside tie up Ruiz and work the body and lean on him....convince Ruiz its only going to be worse for him if he gets up.

Right now i don't see it. If he doesn't find it, he'll make Ruiz look like tyson or tua next time around.

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Originally Posted by smashup

Povetkin was the closest to Ruiz stylewise and he broke AJs nose, wobbled him and won the opening 4 rounds.

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Povetkin was a cheat.

An old, out of prime cheat.

Ban him, Ortiz and Miller for life.

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Originally Posted by J_Undisputed

Right now i don't see it. If he doesn't find it, he'll make Ruiz look like tyson or tua next time around.

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Tua was who I had in mind when Ruiz was throwing in bunches at the final knockdown.

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Originally Posted by imp

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Originally Posted by smashup

Povetkin was the closest to Ruiz stylewise and he broke AJs nose, wobbled him and won the opening 4 rounds.

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Povetkin was a cheat.

An old, out of prime cheat.

Ban him, Ortiz and Miller for life.

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The point is that AJ came back to beat Povetkin but was unable to against Ruiz who I would say is not as good as Povetkin that night. AJ was not the same fighter, it was Frank Bruno.

The point is AJ struggles with fighters with fast hands

I wonder who does Lennox think can handle such a task.

I read that two years ago Floyd welcomed AJ to train at his spot. Lennox got Steward about 4 years in the game whereas AJ is 6 years into his style.

If he can avoid Shots to the head, maybe next time out is different.

Watching the fight, and its apparent between rounds that McCracken is telling AJ exactly what he needs to do to win the fight.

Hearn stated yesterday that AJ didn't remember any of the 3rd round. If Ruiz can hurt him like that, just stay away from the one handed bomber. That may lead to total memory loss.

Anyone think George Foreman is that trainer?


I've never heard GF mention himself as a coach, but to hear it today was pretty interesting.


That's something how trainers like Roy Jones, Pernell did awful jobs, then average boxers like Freddie Roach, Manny Steward went on to become everything as a trainer that they were never as boxers. So maybe George can correct AJ without changing AJ.

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Originally Posted by SlimTrae

Anyone think George Foreman is that trainer?


I've never heard GF mention himself as a coach, but to hear it today was pretty interesting.


That's something how trainers like Roy Jones, Pernell did awful jobs, then average boxers like Freddie Roach, Manny Steward went on to become everything as a trainer that they were never as boxers. So maybe George can correct AJ without changing AJ.

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Robert McCracken is the best trainer for AJ to win against Ruiz.

Everyone knows better now. I'm already sick of hearing what AJ should do or should not do.

Wait for the rematch, let him get the KO and shut up.

Ruiz is just a tourist to those belts. He got lucky, didn't deserve a title shot, didn't against Parker, although he fought well and might have edged it out and definitely didn't deserve the fight with AJ. But he took advantage of it and got the W.

As for AJ ?

• He has to be taught to fight big and tall.
• He has to be taught to use his ramrod jab.
• He has to be taught to punish his opponents with right inside uppercuts.
• He has to be taught to learn to clinch and use weight size strength.

AJ's stamina isn't as bad as ppl think. The Klitschko's had that "empty tank" look too, always had to open their mouths open, always looked tired. Joshua breathing heavily doesn't mean he's done. He's a really big guy and with those muscles, you need to breathe heavy to get enough oxygen in.

His trainer (Rob McCracken) got the Amateur GB gig then stayed on with AJ. His only real experience of note before that was training Carl Froch. And let's be honest, Froch had to rely on having a granite chin. Froch was slow, flat-footed and quite predictable and couldn't box very well.

I've no idea who could do a better job for AJ. There are no names who immediately jump out. There's Adam Booth who has a great boxing brain and IQ but he's a bit weird and he is already invested in a bunch of fighters and just took Joe Joyce on.

Ruiz totally negated AJ's jab and McCracken was screaming at AJ to keep doing the same 1-2, and to keep him long. It wasn't working. At some point you have to switch it up. More right hand leads, more 2-3 combinations to the body and head, etc... Whatever he was doing wasn't working... Switch it up...

A new trainer I think can make him better in there to utilize his strengths better with some dirty tactic stuff he could probably use, but I don't expect him to start moving his head if he isn't at this point in the game. In any case I think its fair to say he's maxed out with McCracken.

But whoever is in AJ's corner next time things will be completely different. When I head Andy Ruiz say "mom we don't have to struggle no more" I knew he'll have a hard time defending those titles. He's not even Buster Douglas. AJ also isn't Tyson.

Ruiz looks to me like one of those impatient fighters that needs something dramatic to happen in his fights otherwise he loses interest and gets disheartened. Joshua needs to box intelligently and he'll take Ruiz out without any doubt. The shot that dropped Ruiz wasn't even close to AJ's best punch. If anything it showed AJ can hurt him EASILY.

The only reason AJ lost that fight is because he tried to finish Ruiz, opened up recklessly and Ruiz hit him with two good left hooks.

The fight should have been over in the third round. Ruiz even allowed AJ to hang in there, survive for a few more rounds when he was badly hurt and didn't even want to fight anymore. Why? Because Ruiz isn't really that good. He couldn't even really hurt zombie Liakhovich. Again, Ruiz is very likable but not an elite boxer. He just isn't. He was irrelevant before the fight and he'll be irrelevant after the rematch, most likely. That's just how it is, nothing against him, very nice guy, very good kid. Not a long time heavyweight champ.

"anything can happen, it's heavyweight boxing" blablabla, most overused phrase in the sport? In sport in general? Yeah, upsets happen every now and then, it just happened, calm down, take a seat, watch the rematch, world keeps turning.

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Originally Posted by Denilson-The-Comeback

Everyone knows better now. I'm already sick of hearing what AJ should do or should not do.

Wait for the rematch, let him get the KO and shut up.

Ruiz is just a tourist to those belts. He got lucky, didn't deserve a title shot, didn't against Parker, although he fought well and might have edged it out and definitely didn't deserve the fight with AJ. But he took advantage of it and got the W.

As for AJ ?

• He has to be taught to fight big and tall.
• He has to be taught to use his ramrod jab.
• He has to be taught to punish his opponents with right inside uppercuts.
• He has to be taught to learn to clinch and use weight size strength.

AJ's stamina isn't as bad as ppl think. The Klitschko's had that "empty tank" look too, always had to open their mouths open, always looked tired. Joshua breathing heavily doesn't mean he's done. He's a really big guy and with those muscles, you need to breathe heavy to get enough oxygen in.

His trainer (Rob McCracken) got the Amateur GB gig then stayed on with AJ. His only real experience of note before that was training Carl Froch. And let's be honest, Froch had to rely on having a granite chin. Froch was slow, flat-footed and quite predictable and couldn't box very well.

I've no idea who could do a better job for AJ. There are no names who immediately jump out. There's Adam Booth who has a great boxing brain and IQ but he's a bit weird and he is already invested in a bunch of fighters and just took Joe Joyce on.

Ruiz totally negated AJ's jab and McCracken was screaming at AJ to keep doing the same 1-2, and to keep him long. It wasn't working. At some point you have to switch it up. More right hand leads, more 2-3 combinations to the body and head, etc... Whatever he was doing wasn't working... Switch it up...

A new trainer I think can make him better in there to utilize his strengths better with some dirty tactic stuff he could probably use, but I don't expect him to start moving his head if he isn't at this point in the game. In any case I think its fair to say he's maxed out with McCracken.

But whoever is in AJ's corner next time things will be completely different. When I head Andy Ruiz say "mom we don't have to struggle no more" I knew he'll have a hard time defending those titles. He's not even Buster Douglas. AJ also isn't Tyson.

Ruiz looks to me like one of those impatient fighters that needs something dramatic to happen in his fights otherwise he loses interest and gets disheartened. Joshua needs to box intelligently and he'll take Ruiz out without any doubt. The shot that dropped Ruiz wasn't even close to AJ's best punch. If anything it showed AJ can hurt him EASILY.

The only reason AJ lost that fight is because he tried to finish Ruiz, opened up recklessly and Ruiz hit him with two good left hooks.

The fight should have been over in the third round. Ruiz even allowed AJ to hang in there, survive for a few more rounds when he was badly hurt and didn't even want to fight anymore. Why? Because Ruiz isn't really that good. He couldn't even really hurt zombie Liakhovich. Again, Ruiz is very likable but not an elite boxer. He just isn't. He was irrelevant before the fight and he'll be irrelevant after the rematch, most likely. That's just how it is, nothing against him, very nice guy, very good kid. Not a long time heavyweight champ.

"anything can happen, it's heavyweight boxing" blablabla, most overused phrase in the sport? In sport in general? Yeah, upsets happen every now and then, it just happened, calm down, take a seat, watch the rematch, world keeps turning.

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What do you think of George Foreman putting himself in the mix as a trainer?

I can not remember George training anyone?

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Originally Posted by Master

I can not remember George training anyone?

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He hasn't nor ever talked about it...UNTIL AJ lost. There are a few Utube clips when him offering his services to AJ.

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Originally Posted by SlimTrae

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Originally Posted by Master

I can not remember George training anyone?

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He hasn't nor ever talked about it...UNTIL AJ lost. There are a few Utube clips when him offering his services to AJ.

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I think it is just ego, trying to get attention and easy money because the game plan is relatively simple. If AJ can execute it properly he wins. It needs someone to get into the head of AJ and make him believe he can win because that will be his biggest barrier, himself. It needs a Cus Dmato. ;D

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Originally Posted by Master

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SlimTrae

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Master

I can not remember George training anyone?

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He hasn't nor ever talked about it...UNTIL AJ lost. There are a few Utube clips when him offering his services to AJ.

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I think it is just ego, trying to get attention and easy money because the game plan is relatively simple. If AJ can execute it properly he wins. It needs someone to get into the head of AJ and make him believe he can win because that will be his biggest barrier, himself. It needs a Cus Dmato. ;D

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Did anyone doubt AJ’s mental strength before the fight ? It’s just a loss ffs. They’ve all had them.
Does anybody feel tha Ali needed a “Memtal coach “ after losing to Frazier?
He’s got a tough road ahead, but not because of any mental fragility, but because although he was top of the pile, he has glaring technical flaws which need to be addressed.

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Originally Posted by SlimTrae

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Originally Posted by Denilson-The-Comeback

Everyone knows better now. I'm already sick of hearing what AJ should do or should not do.

Wait for the rematch, let him get the KO and shut up.

Ruiz is just a tourist to those belts. He got lucky, didn't deserve a title shot, didn't against Parker, although he fought well and might have edged it out and definitely didn't deserve the fight with AJ. But he took advantage of it and got the W.

As for AJ ?

• He has to be taught to fight big and tall.
• He has to be taught to use his ramrod jab.
• He has to be taught to punish his opponents with right inside uppercuts.
• He has to be taught to learn to clinch and use weight size strength.

AJ's stamina isn't as bad as ppl think. The Klitschko's had that "empty tank" look too, always had to open their mouths open, always looked tired. Joshua breathing heavily doesn't mean he's done. He's a really big guy and with those muscles, you need to breathe heavy to get enough oxygen in.

His trainer (Rob McCracken) got the Amateur GB gig then stayed on with AJ. His only real experience of note before that was training Carl Froch. And let's be honest, Froch had to rely on having a granite chin. Froch was slow, flat-footed and quite predictable and couldn't box very well.

I've no idea who could do a better job for AJ. There are no names who immediately jump out. There's Adam Booth who has a great boxing brain and IQ but he's a bit weird and he is already invested in a bunch of fighters and just took Joe Joyce on.

Ruiz totally negated AJ's jab and McCracken was screaming at AJ to keep doing the same 1-2, and to keep him long. It wasn't working. At some point you have to switch it up. More right hand leads, more 2-3 combinations to the body and head, etc... Whatever he was doing wasn't working... Switch it up...

A new trainer I think can make him better in there to utilize his strengths better with some dirty tactic stuff he could probably use, but I don't expect him to start moving his head if he isn't at this point in the game. In any case I think its fair to say he's maxed out with McCracken.

But whoever is in AJ's corner next time things will be completely different. When I head Andy Ruiz say "mom we don't have to struggle no more" I knew he'll have a hard time defending those titles. He's not even Buster Douglas. AJ also isn't Tyson.

Ruiz looks to me like one of those impatient fighters that needs something dramatic to happen in his fights otherwise he loses interest and gets disheartened. Joshua needs to box intelligently and he'll take Ruiz out without any doubt. The shot that dropped Ruiz wasn't even close to AJ's best punch. If anything it showed AJ can hurt him EASILY.

The only reason AJ lost that fight is because he tried to finish Ruiz, opened up recklessly and Ruiz hit him with two good left hooks.

The fight should have been over in the third round. Ruiz even allowed AJ to hang in there, survive for a few more rounds when he was badly hurt and didn't even want to fight anymore. Why? Because Ruiz isn't really that good. He couldn't even really hurt zombie Liakhovich. Again, Ruiz is very likable but not an elite boxer. He just isn't. He was irrelevant before the fight and he'll be irrelevant after the rematch, most likely. That's just how it is, nothing against him, very nice guy, very good kid. Not a long time heavyweight champ.

"anything can happen, it's heavyweight boxing" blablabla, most overused phrase in the sport? In sport in general? Yeah, upsets happen every now and then, it just happened, calm down, take a seat, watch the rematch, world keeps turning.

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What do you think of George Foreman putting himself in the mix as a trainer?

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George, ya can't teach chin mane. Stahp

I don't think AJ has a bad chin but he doesn't have the incredibly sturdy chin like Foreman.

"You fightin' for the heavyweight championship, you start to bleed... so what? Your eyes start to close... so what? Keep fightin'!"

-George commentating on Lennox vs. Rahman I lol

But Foreman had no foot work, no slipping abilities basically no defense. He'd wing punches and knock you out, just look how he body punches just swings the arm like a sledge hammer so I doubt Foreman can improve AJ's game. He might be able to motivate him or strengthen him mentally that’s all I see

What can Foreman bring to the table? The mental approach. Imposing his will on another fighter, that was the essential ingredient in his win over Moorer. He just kept coming and turning around.

Some trainers say they don't have a template and get to know the fighter in order to ascertain what can be added to their ringcraft. Wouldn't that be what is needed?

On fightnight, McCracken was telling Joshua what to do to win. AJ was not following this plan, just like Moorer when Atlas told him what to do to beat Foreman and he largely ignored that too.

Perhaps different voice(s) is needed is all.