Joshua v Ruiz

[Ron Swanson]

Props to AJ, this is a pretty good replacement

[p4pking]

Its as good a replacement as we were possibly going to get. I would bet Ortiz turned it down because he thought he couldnt have passed a drug test more than anything else, he has been 39 for 8 years and wont make half as much money the rest of his career. I dont believe he was scared of the fight as much as he knew it would get cancelled due to his failing a test anyways. Michael Hunter would have been on par at best, but he didnt want it on short notice and thats fair enough. Hes still young, new to HW, and if he continues to have success he could get the same chance down the line. I was surprised to see Ruiz is just 29, seems like hes been around forever. I think he might have some good moments but as most do, feel he just doesnt have the size, power, or physicality to win.

[X]

I suspect that the reason it is very difficult to get a credible heavyweight fighter in as a last minute replacement is because nearly all of them would be at the wrong point of their PED cycle ......

[Mark TKO]

know nothing about him but record looks OK - was a bit concerned as I saw his photo before his record

[Master]

know nothing about him but record looks OK - was a bit concerned as I saw his photo before his record

Ruiz fought recently when Khan fought Crawford. Had I known he was going to be AJ's next opponent I would have paid more attention to the fight. As it was the contest was not good.

[Master]

Andy Ruiz Jr 'agrees terms' to fight Anthony Joshua on June 1

Anthony Joshua is set to face Andy Ruiz Jr. after the American heavyweight was drafted in to replace Jarrell Miller for the June 1 bout in New York.

Ruiz steps in to face the unified World Heavyweight champion after Miller failed three drug tests in the build up to the Madison Square Garden fight.

The 29-year-old has reportedly agreed terms, with the fight set to be announced on Tuesday.

Promoter Eddie Hearn talked up Ruiz as a credible opponent for Joshua.

“People who know boxing, everything I’ve seen on social media says this is a tougher fight than Jarrell Miller,” Hearn told Fighthype.com. “Andy’s got quicker hands and punches harder.”



“I want someone who comes to fight, I don’t want someone who comes in a bit scared, one or two rounds and it’s over,” he added.

"He will entertain you, give it his all. Even if it means getting sensationally knocked out, he will rather do that than not do it.

“It’s not done yet, I’d say terms have been agreed, but there’s a few things that need to be ironed out in the contract.“

Ruiz has an impressive 32-1-0 with his one professional defeat coming in his only World title fight in December 2016.

Fighting Joseph Parker for the vacant WBO title vacated by Tyson Fury, Ruiz lost to the New Zealander by majority decision.

Parker then went on to drop the belt in a points loss to Joshua in their fight last spring.

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/and...085507508.html

[Master]

Deontay Wilder manager Shelly Finkel RULES OUT Anthony Joshua fight next and says they will revisit AJ in 2020

It’s not good news for fans hoping to see the undisputed title bout

Deontay Wilder’s co-manager Shelly Finkel has stated that his man will not be fighting Anthony Joshua next.

The veteran fight-maker guides the WBC champion’s career and insists they now have their own path that will see them only revisit a potential AJ bout in 2020.

After failed negotiations caused an acrimonious fall-out last year, Wilder and his team were left with a very bitter taste in their mouths towards Joshua’s camp, and this feeling has still not subsided.

Finkel explained to ThaBoxingVoice: “There is a history to the fight with Joshua and until recently they did not want the fight obviously.

“We were willing to fight them for $15million flat and fight them in the UK, but they gave every story and didn’t fight us.

“The night I had to tell Deontay they were fighting Povetkin instead, he was so emotional I felt terrible having to break that news to him.



“Before, there were no options for Deontay and the best route was to fight Joshua.

“When we realised that couldn’t happen, we ended up fighting Tyson Fury and that was one of the fights of the year in 2018.

“We’re fighting our mandatory now and we have a pretty full plate for this year and we will discuss fighting Joshua next year.”

When asked if the Joshua vs Wilder fight wasn’t happening because a Wilder vs Tyson Fury rematch was on the cards, he added: “We’re not fighting Joshua next, but it’s not for reasons that the Fury fight can be locked in soon.”

On May 18, Wilder will defend his belt against mandatory challenger Dominic Breazeale.

It was hoped that after this defence talks could restart with AJ’s representatives, however the Brit’s promoter Eddie Hearn last week revealed that he’d heard rumours the American was instead lining up other bouts with Luis Ortiz and Adam Kownacki.

Upon being quizzed about these potential bouts: Finkel replied: “They are all in the works, there is nothing confirmed at this point.

“The only thing that is locked in is the fight with Breazeale on May 18.

“If everything goes the way we hope it will, we will then discuss his next fight and lock that in.”

In the early stages of 2019, Wilder’s team entered discussions with John Skipper of DAZN (Joshua’s US broadcaster).

They ultimately rejected a $100million+ multi-fight deal to join the platform, but Finkel is optimistic this bridge will continue to be built upon and prove when they do come to make the undisputed title bout.

“Yes, I have spoken with John Skipper more than once. Actually, him and I are developing a very good relationship. I’m very fond of him.

“They will continue and eventually it will lead to a fight of Deontay and Joshua.”

https://talksport.com/sport/boxing/5...ua-fight-next/

[TIC]

Joshua wins the majority of rounds and stops Ruiz late in the fight