Joshua analysis of the Ruiz fight

[ykdadamaja]

You can't explain away the psychological blues and depression. Once an attack hits you, like severe anxiety, you can say and do whatever you want but you are pretty much useless until it passes away or something is injected into your spirit to make you want to fight on.

[Mark TKO]

Been thinking about this.

I’m beginning to think that an immediate rematch could be a bad idea. They talk about going back to the drawing board and though it might set him back a year or so career wise it’s maybe not a bad move. Needs to get his killer instinct back and become lethal again - be a fighter first not a cash cow.

He loses to ruiz again and he’s finished and I can’t see him winning as it stands.

[Spicoli]

Dunno, he sounds like he's reliving it way to vivid and still wearing it to gloomy and heavy there. He needs to go it head clear, shoulders light without all that or he'll get folded up again. Heard he was hit on the back of the head a lot as weeks went by and best to call it high on the ear and Joshua puts that off tha table. He also skipped the first couple rounds as if it were nothing except that Ruiz was landing some of the same shots and setting patterns. After Andy was dropped Joshua started hooking with the shorter faster fighter inside and the left hook was his downfall. May be an idea to take a get back fight first in N.Y, maybe string Ruiz out in the only way he can right now but can understand the want and feel for immediate redo.

[Master]

It would make more sense for AJ to ‘regain his confidence’ type of fight but I believe AJ and Eddie are worried that if they do not have an immediate rematch they will be left out in limbo for a long time waiting for another title shot.

However Ruiz is beatable and AJ has beaten better fighters so he should be confident of the win especially if it is held in UK.

[Mark TKO]

How confident will ruiz be though.

What's that saying. Knock a man out and you'll knock him out even quicker in the rematch...

There have been exceptions of course over the years but not many spring to mind.

[Master]

It is a huge risk but AJ has put himself in this position where he was regarded as the best heavyweight champion and getting justly rewarded for it.

If AJ is not at that standard any more then it is better for him to find out sooner rather than string it out and lose to a lower rated fighter later.

I believe AJ became champion too soon but the division was so weak it would have been criminal not to take the opportunity to win the title against the worst champion in history. AJ was essentially learning as a champion and to illustrate that went the distance for the first time against Parker.

I cannot understand why AJ lost to Ruiz other than he let his standards slip and got caught. If it was just an “off night” then he should win it back.

[Beanz]

You get caught at this weight and at this level, and it throws all your good intentions and plans into the river. AJ needs to get Eddy to force Ruiz hand and make the rematch in the UK. Enforce the contract and use the attributes he has rather than focus on Ruiz ability to upset the apple cart again. It is not just about establishing a 'jab' or 'space' it is about establishing his ability to do what he wants. Stand up, don't spread your feet and stoop to Ruiz' level (height wise) it will leave you wide open to a lateral attack ,step in like you mean it, not tentatively, and Ruiz can't set and throw at will like he did every time AJ hesitated in the first fight. Dictate and press your advantage. That is what Ruiz did from the moment AJ handed him the belts prefight. He gave him the permission to dictate terms in the ring also and so it is SO, SO important psychologically that AJ sets terms for rematch. They signed the contract, honour it or be forced to do so.

It is still no guarantee but it is the only reasonable hope he has of getting back on track. Fighting again in the US will be seen as capitulation and it will eat away at him. Bring him over here and force the fight. Focus on that as the first prefight round and build on that.