Ruiz v Joshua 2 confirmed - rematch clause triggered - Nov/Dec

[El Kabong]

Can't see Joshua keeping him off for 12 rounds.

Ruiz will get to him at some point and it's all down to how he takes it and reacts.

Can't wait to be honest

I think he can, I know he can, but the fact is THAT'S NOT THE WAY PEOPLE WANT HIM TO FIGHT


Now I know my good buddy @TitoFan will come in here and back me up on this



Anthony Joshua has all the tools to avenge this loss, but the fans won't be impressed by it, they may even hate it....can AJ shut his ears to the crowd? Can AJ "WALK THROUGH THE FIRE!!!" like Teddy Atlas would say? All he has to do is use his size...now you might say "Gee if all you have to do is use your size then why isn't WWE's 'The Big Show' heavyweight champ?" well AJ does have boxing skill too don't forget that and he'll need to use that AND his size.


Jab, tie up, push off, jab, jab, jab, jab...frustrate Ruiz by keeping him at distance, let him throw wide loopy punches, stay within yourself, move your feet, keep your guard up, and when Ruiz comes in on you, you tie him up and lean on him because it wears him down.

Does that sound like a fun watch to anyone Well not every fight is meant to be a thing of beauty, tactics when used correctly can be beautiful on their own....AJ has to use boxing's version of 4 yards in a cloud of dust, the 4 corners, the Jose Mourinho park the bus....it won't be fun BUT winning is fun, avenging a loss is fun, frustrating your opponent is fun...sometimes you have to find fun in other places.



All that said...you go to fight to please the crowd you can do that it doesn't having winning the fight as the goal it's how Gatti fought it's how Mickey Ward fought, it's brutal, it shortens your career. Win and please the crowd the next time if you can it's better for you, it's smarter

[TitoFan]

Can't see Joshua keeping him off for 12 rounds.

Ruiz will get to him at some point and it's all down to how he takes it and reacts.

Can't wait to be honest

I think he can, I know he can, but the fact is THAT'S NOT THE WAY PEOPLE WANT HIM TO FIGHT


Now I know my good buddy @TitoFan will come in here and back me up on this



Anthony Joshua has all the tools to avenge this loss, but the fans won't be impressed by it, they may even hate it....can AJ shut his ears to the crowd? Can AJ "WALK THROUGH THE FIRE!!!" like Teddy Atlas would say? All he has to do is use his size...now you might say "Gee if all you have to do is use your size then why isn't WWE's 'The Big Show' heavyweight champ?" well AJ does have boxing skill too don't forget that and he'll need to use that AND his size.


Jab, tie up, push off, jab, jab, jab, jab...frustrate Ruiz by keeping him at distance, let him throw wide loopy punches, stay within yourself, move your feet, keep your guard up, and when Ruiz comes in on you, you tie him up and lean on him because it wears him down.

Does that sound like a fun watch to anyone Well not every fight is meant to be a thing of beauty, tactics when used correctly can be beautiful on their own....AJ has to use boxing's version of 4 yards in a cloud of dust, the 4 corners, the Jose Mourinho park the bus....it won't be fun BUT winning is fun, avenging a loss is fun, frustrating your opponent is fun...sometimes you have to find fun in other places.



All that said...you go to fight to please the crowd you can do that it doesn't having winning the fight as the goal it's how Gatti fought it's how Mickey Ward fought, it's brutal, it shortens your career. Win and please the crowd the next time if you can it's better for you, it's smarter

LOL Lyle. I know why you're saying that. Visions of our conversations about Wlad come dancing into my head.

But yeah... it's a good example. Wlad was.... let's say.... a bit defensive-challenged before he got together with Emmanuel, after some devastating KO losses. What transpired after that is up to the eye of the beholder. Some see it as sustained defensive wizardry and dominance...... others see it as a long, boring reign of "defend your chin at all costs."

Applying this to AJ, ok... so he just suffered a humiliating, crushing, devastating stoppage loss. What does he do now?

I can already tell you.... if he pulls a Wlad, and becomes a clutching, mauling, meek heavyweight with a huge punch.... I personally will be disappointed. I think he can retain his offensive firepower, albeit while making some key changes like cutting down on the bodybuilder crap and build stamina. He can create a fight plan for Ruiz that, as I said before, involves side to side movement, lots of hard, meaningful jabs.... and pacing himself for the long haul. If all these things bring him a dominant unanimous decision in the rematch.... I for one will give him all the credit in the world. He doesn't have to answer Ruiz's stoppage with one of his own. It would be nice... but all he needs is a win.

The parallels would be uncanny if it were to happen. If AJ suddenly becomes gun-shy, as to avoid getting his chin touched, we could be in for some very boring fights.

[Spicoli]

I can't get away from thinking Joshua has to make a bit of an ugly fight if he hopes to win. Working the jab maintain distance and lean on push back everywhere in between. I just don't think he has the footwork and mobility to negate the pace and combination punching of Ruiz. Tying up Ruiz will prove more difficult than imagined as Ruiz is a sound inside mixer who shortens them up pretty well with chopping hooks. The AJ jab was actually on in the 1st round but while Andy had a varying rhythm Joshua showed 1 gear with no adaptability. He will very much have to punch with Ruiz as he knows once he commits to the jab not following through will see him hit thrice for his troubles. Basically Joshua is just not a fluid fighter who can max speed of foot and hand with Ruiz. He'll have to force the fight sooner than later and in between Ruiz knows he can counter him under the jab or pulling out where the left caught him repeatedly.

There's a massive mental make up factor for both going in now. Just as Joshua will have to temper himself and hope that he doesn't see panic ghosts once Ruiz lands some of the same shots, this is a career reset and start for Ruiz too. Will he come crashing down to Earth off of this new momentum and stardom he fell into and come in self diluted. He doesn't come off like a guy who loses sight of reality but attitude and pressure to prove it again may catch up as the rematch nears. Wouldn't be surprised to see some people now saying Joshua will lose and he's toast gradually come around when the initial shock where's off. Personally I see Ruiz getting him again with rigid stamina and lack of fluid pins being a big factor.

[THE THIRD MAN]

Ruiz is no bum, don't judge a fighter by his physique...he is a very good fighter. I think we might see the same result in a rematch!

[El Kabong]

I look at guys who were "shooting stars" and I look at the "tried and tested who lasted longest" and I look at their styles and there are typically glaring differences when it comes to attention paid to attack vs defense as well as cageyness/strategy. Defense, strategy, fighting smarter not harder those things are good for longevity the opposite are good for the fans and I think if you're someone like AJ or right now if you're like Wilder you should pick and choose when you want to stand and deliver and when you want to "be the better boxer" nobody is saying you can't have both but I'm saying for the long term smarter is better. So perhaps AJ's brawling style he used vs Ruiz doesn't work on Ruiz so next time he boxes him and then if say AJ were to fight Pulev perhaps he could/should brawl vs him and it would work but I am of the belief fighters at the tippy top of their game should pick their battles as the time at the top of the mountain is fleeting.


Wlad, Lennox, B-Hop, Floyd, Evander, Ali, Holmes, Pep, Tunney, Robinson, Jack Johnson guys who are cagey last in this sport guys who are 100% attack don't some of those guys have long runs, but most of them fade quickly.

[J_Undisputed]

The more we get these opinions of the toll it takes on AJ and what hes going to need to rectify this, the more I think the answer for the new trainer question starts to become a resounding yes. This is a massive undertaking and they need to start now... Not training but at least mental part and the teaching. Trade in the heavy weights for lighter weights more reps and interval training. Are there any high altitudes training environments across the pond. They're going to need to tear him down to build him back up. He's got fundamentals but this is going to need to be rewired and probably somehere along the way ask himself if he wants to lose that much of himself that he may never get back. It can change a persons attitude and perspective.

[ruthless rocco]

This really does show just how shit the heavies are right now.

All Joshua needs is a good quick and strong jab followed by the occasional right. None of that limp pawing crap he threw in the first fight.