Have British tabloids gone all "National Enquirer" on us?

[Kirkland Laing]

The same photographs have made it into papers all over the world as far away as New Zealand. The main photograph looks like a slimmed down Ruiz to me, nothing fake looking about it. He's obviously taking the rematch seriously, he's managed to get a neutral venue and he won the first fight clearly, no lucky punch that did it. Joshua no matter what he thinks or believes will never be the same mentally again. You've got to make Ruiz the favourite for the rematch.

[TitoFan]

Fat Andy won the first fight convincingly. Slimming down considerably is just adding an X factor into the rematch that IMO needn't be there.

[Kirkland Laing]

Fat Andy won the first fight convincingly. Slimming down considerably is just adding an X factor into the rematch that IMO needn't be there.

If he's in better condition it's not going to hurt. He'll have somebody who knows what they're doing cooking his meals, a strength and conditioning coach, an armed guard on the fridge. A proper training camp compared to last time. The knowledge he already beat Joshua convincingly and can take a big punch from him. A neutral venue. A mentally damaged Joshua who may well be happy to lose and retire with a gigantic Saudi payday in his pocket. I can't remember a rematch for an upset where so much was in favour of the upsetter.

[Spicoli]

Might be trying to counter all the 'he has yet to hit camp' rah rah that we saw recently but he'll always be a chunk and has proven he can make it work. Joshua would be making a mistake to focus on it one way or another and needs to worry more about his own footwork and mobility. You can go all out under a week and drain to what he looks like there in water weight alone as it's mainly the face. His extra rolls and breakdancing boobs were secondary to his already top hand speed, timing and a pretty good engine. Drop his arms and have a few cervezas with a massive dinner and he's the big ol chubber who knocked the stuffing out of Joshua. Agree with Miles the location blows.

[Fenster]

Buster has dipped a smidgen below 250lb once or twice in his entire career (not all scales/stages/weigh-ins give the same reading). He's already said he'll comfortably meet his optimum of 250-265.

Bear in mind he was never a big puncher before AJ. Why? Cause Buster could make light-heavyweight let alone cruiser.

[The Whirlwind]

Anthony Joshua is a bum.
Deonte Wilder would bury him.

[TitoFan]

Fat Andy won the first fight convincingly. Slimming down considerably is just adding an X factor into the rematch that IMO needn't be there.

If he's in better condition it's not going to hurt. He'll have somebody who knows what they're doing cooking his meals, a strength and conditioning coach, an armed guard on the fridge. A proper training camp compared to last time. The knowledge he already beat Joshua convincingly and can take a big punch from him. A neutral venue. A mentally damaged Joshua who may well be happy to lose and retire with a gigantic Saudi payday in his pocket. I can't remember a rematch for an upset where so much was in favour of the upsetter.

Still... if Ruiz goes overboard in this slimming down business he's risking changing some things considerably for their rematch. It was the sheer volume and power of punches from tubby Ruiz the first time out that knocked out Joshua. Showing up for the rematch like the winner of a Jenny Craig weight loss competition isn't going to do him any favors. His condition in the first fight was good enough to take care of Joshua. Overdoing the weight loss could impair the effect his punches have on Joshua. Slimming down some is ok, but from some accounts, it seems he may be overdoing it. It's an additional X factor you just don't want to incorporate. Again... if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Fenster]

The same photographs have made it into papers all over the world as far away as New Zealand. The main photograph looks like a slimmed down Ruiz to me, nothing fake looking about it. He's obviously taking the rematch seriously, he's managed to get a neutral venue and he won the first fight clearly, no lucky punch that did it. Joshua no matter what he thinks or believes will never be the same mentally again. You've got to make Ruiz the favourite for the rematch.

If you want to go skint.

[Kirkland Laing]

The same photographs have made it into papers all over the world as far away as New Zealand. The main photograph looks like a slimmed down Ruiz to me, nothing fake looking about it. He's obviously taking the rematch seriously, he's managed to get a neutral venue and he won the first fight clearly, no lucky punch that did it. Joshua no matter what he thinks or believes will never be the same mentally again. You've got to make Ruiz the favourite for the rematch.

If you want to go skint.

I don't bet money on sports so I won't go skint. I think he's got a hell of a chance to win again though. Joshua isn't going to learn how to fight inside any better since last time and the little tub will definitely get inside and land those short hooks. Could easily make him quit again.

[Fenster]

The same photographs have made it into papers all over the world as far away as New Zealand. The main photograph looks like a slimmed down Ruiz to me, nothing fake looking about it. He's obviously taking the rematch seriously, he's managed to get a neutral venue and he won the first fight clearly, no lucky punch that did it. Joshua no matter what he thinks or believes will never be the same mentally again. You've got to make Ruiz the favourite for the rematch.

If you want to go skint.

I don't bet money on sports so I won't go skint. I think he's got a hell of a chance to win again though. Joshua isn't going to learn how to fight inside any better since last time and the little tub will definitely get inside and land those short hooks. Could easily make him quit again.

If you were interested in sports betting you'd quickly go skint if you believe Buster is favourite, however, I understand the reasoning from your perspective. It's also a shame as 3/1 for Buster will look monumental if you're right.

However, I don't agree Joshua quit and the fact he's been stopped and avenged losses bodes well for his mental state. Joshua's downfall was initiating an inside fight after flooring him, even after that Buster didn't really do much apart from punch with him, from the amateurs to Whyte and Povetkin he's been caught with left hooks trying to hook on the inside, maybe he's finally learnt his lesson?

Stop the fight when Ruiz is stretched nobody believes the outcome. "Lucky punch," nope, sure did turn the fight on it's head though.

[Kirkland Laing]

The same photographs have made it into papers all over the world as far away as New Zealand. The main photograph looks like a slimmed down Ruiz to me, nothing fake looking about it. He's obviously taking the rematch seriously, he's managed to get a neutral venue and he won the first fight clearly, no lucky punch that did it. Joshua no matter what he thinks or believes will never be the same mentally again. You've got to make Ruiz the favourite for the rematch.

If you want to go skint.

I don't bet money on sports so I won't go skint. I think he's got a hell of a chance to win again though. Joshua isn't going to learn how to fight inside any better since last time and the little tub will definitely get inside and land those short hooks. Could easily make him quit again.

If you were interested in sports betting you'd quickly go skint if you believe Buster is favourite, however, I understand the reasoning from your perspective. It's also a shame as 3/1 for Buster will look monumental if you're right.

However, I don't agree Joshua quit and the fact he's been stopped and avenged losses bodes well for his mental state. Joshua's downfall was initiating an inside fight after flooring him, even after that Buster didn't really do much apart from punch with him, from the amateurs to Whyte and Povetkin he's been caught with left hooks trying to hook on the inside, maybe he's finally learnt his lesson?

Stop the fight when Ruiz is stretched nobody believes the outcome. "Lucky punch," nope, sure did turn the fight on it's head though.

I agree Joshua thought it was all over, tried to walk through him and got caught with one punch that did a lot of damage. Most likely he keeps his distance during the rematch and Ruiz has trouble getting near him. He'll definitely get to him at some point though.

[Spicoli]

Lack of a live enthusiastic crowd will benefit Joshua very much. If he planned to play backfoot jabber in NY or CA he'd be booed to the point of deafness within 3 rounds. It's not like Ruiz is a dumb one gear clod who forgets he got caught with the left hook and had to climb off the deck. He also shook off the immediate follow up long best right hand AJ could manage in the moment.

[Beanz]

So in answer to the thread title..No. A photo from Ruiz own Social Media and a story reported all over the world of Ruiz losing some weight is hardly and "National Enquirer". Will the weight loss help him? Maybe, it probably can't hurt. It is about belief more than anything. If AJ can hold his nerve, stick to the gameplan and keep Ruiz on the end of his jab, in the centre of the ring, he will get the opportunity to finish it.

[Ron Swanson]

The same photographs have made it into papers all over the world as far away as New Zealand. The main photograph looks like a slimmed down Ruiz to me, nothing fake looking about it. He's obviously taking the rematch seriously, he's managed to get a neutral venue and he won the first fight clearly, no lucky punch that did it. Joshua no matter what he thinks or believes will never be the same mentally again. You've got to make Ruiz the favourite for the rematch.

He didn’t get a neutral venue. It’s more than twice as expensive to fly from Los Angeles and nearly 4 times as long. He agreed to a venue DAZN didn’t want(another loss for that sinking ship) and he didn’t want. It’s irrelevant, location won’t determine the victor. But it was calculated, and not by Ruiz. London would have been simpler for Ruiz. If you’ve ever spent 20 hours flying you know.

[Kirkland Laing]

The same photographs have made it into papers all over the world as far away as New Zealand. The main photograph looks like a slimmed down Ruiz to me, nothing fake looking about it. He's obviously taking the rematch seriously, he's managed to get a neutral venue and he won the first fight clearly, no lucky punch that did it. Joshua no matter what he thinks or believes will never be the same mentally again. You've got to make Ruiz the favourite for the rematch.

He didn’t get a neutral venue. It’s more than twice as expensive to fly from Los Angeles and nearly 4 times as long. He agreed to a venue DAZN didn’t want(another loss for that sinking ship) and he didn’t want. It’s irrelevant, location won’t determine the victor. But it was calculated, and not by Ruiz. London would have been simpler for Ruiz. If you’ve ever spent 20 hours flying you know.

It's a neutral venue. Flight times don't come into it. It's not 80 000 deafening Joshua fans at Wembley which was an option for Joshua. Instead he went for a gigantic Saudi cheque which gives Ruiz the benefit of a neutral venue.