Does Joshua look more beatable after tonight?

[Denilson-The-Comeback]

I had to open another account for this. I watched the fight. Man – Where do I begin ?

First off people need to stop talking about the body of Ruiz. I learned long ago that body fat isn’t an indicator of cardiovascular conditioning, its just extra weight being carried around. Muscle on the other hand is active weight, therefore it requires oxygen to operate, so being heavily muscled is more tiring than being fat, due to needing more oxygen to perform continuously.

That’s one of the reasons why Joshua was panting like a Labrador and pawing at his jab meekly. That’s one of the reasons why he lost to a taco eating fat yankee.

I think because Wilder is so technically flawed that it subconsciously had a lot of people under the impression that AJ was this great technician. Yes, he’s technically superior to Wilder. But he’s not difficult to hit.

I still think AJ beats Wilder and Fury. Joshua is still the best heavyweight so long as he fights anyone over 6ft 3.

To me Joshua actually improved his stature in defeat. Not because of his in-ring performance, obviously, but because of his gracious way of handling defeat.

But one judge actually had Joshua up on the cards. So if Ruiz would not have stopped him he would have gotten robbed.

AJ’s never going to reclaim his lofty status. He could be trained by the late Manny Steward and and Eddie Futch, he's still not going to suddenly start moving his head like Frazier, or improve his foot speed like Tyson nor is he going to stop lifting weight like he's Tony Atlas.

He is who he is.

An offensively exciting fighter with enough flaws that his next loss is always just one-punch away.

People say unless he has a heart and chin transplant, the paper tiger is done but he can learn to be ultra cautious. Kinda like Klitschko after he got stopped.

Another thing – AJ didn't quit.

To me his actions said “Just give me few seconds and I'll fight ”

He spat out his gum shield and then went to corner expecting a UK ref and a break and answered to referee 'Yeah, yeah' with hands on the ropes but he gave the ref terrible body language and it was game over.

But if AJ takes the rematch and get’s beat by Ruiz again ? Then he’ll be remembered similarly to Lucian Bute, who was also popular & undefeated until he left his own
backyard.

AJ has always entertained possibilities of a lost (in fact, he once said that he is confident that he would lose more than once in his career)

Objectively, few great fighters crumble as surprisingly as that. Joshua will need a sustained second coming to go down as a great fighter.

I also had a massive laugh at Laurel and Hardy (Eddie and Barry Hearn) They tried to get away with a line up of names fighting inept opponents, it back fired in a huge way!

• Queen Katie Taylor was clearly beaten but got the nod.
• Joshua Buatsi got the win against a old light faded opponent.
• The hype job Josh Kelly was cut badly over both eyes and didn't deserve the draw.
• Golden boy Callum Smith fought an ex sparring partner who had never once fought up at super middle weight.
• Tommy Coyle was hammered by a ordinary fighter in his prime that was way past his prime.

Finally AJ doesn't need a rematch now. It would ruin him. He needs to recuperate. He needs to accept the loss and start retooling.

Forget about who makes or has made the most money and get back to wanting to actually be better than everyone AND WANT to prove it.

He needs a new promoter, someone who cares more about him than conquering the boxing industry (and being such a cad at the same time).

In the right hands AJ will be fine. He is still one of the best.