Boxing thread?

[King of Otters]

Why?

Because seeing a fat bloke batter a chiselled Adonis is great TV.

 

[Thewobbler]

Ruiz has never been KO'd and his only loss was to parker who beat him by decision. AJ has to fight smart and keep ruiz on the outside and win a decision. Ruiz knows he can put AJ away and AJ will be worried by this.

Is this the end of AJ if he loses? Can't see him beating wilder whos power is just to much to stay away from for 12 rounds.

 

[mrlilywhite]

What's that old saying in boxing? Speed makes power? If Ruiz is really that heavy (the last time he was that heavy was in his second fight), then he has taken away one of his biggest assets imo. He looked good on the pads in the open warm-up, but that was on the pads. If AJ can keep the range and Ruiz struggles to get in close, then that is him nullified. For all his hand speed, Ruiz isn't that fleet-footed and the extra weight will emphasise that even more.

I guess for AJ, he only really has the option to trim down - he needs something to give him more gas, however, I feel AJ is natural that way, or at least that is what I have seen from his fights. His weight is good though and I don't think he has been that close to it since he was banging people out for fun - he struggled the further up the scales he went and you could possibly argue that round about the 17st mark is his ideal weight?

Right now, I think it's anyone's guess how this is going to end up. My thoughts are that AJ put's him away in 8, but Ruiz is coming to stop AJ early - the added weight points to this. No way does Ruiz have the conditioning to go into the latter half of the fight at that weight. I have watched the 1st fight over and over and everything points at the left that effectively put AJ down in the 3rd. That was the punch that finished the fight - those punches don't happen all that often and Ruiz isn't known as KO artist with something like 60 odd percent?

Whatever the outcome, it's gonna be a good fight.

 

[Spurus]

This is going to be very interesting, AJ is a lot lighter plus will fight smarter now, probably use his reach a lot more, keep at a safe distance and move around, as for Ruiz coming in 15lb heavier, he's gained more power but has he lost the speed? I think Ruiz will win this, and AJ will probably retire.

 

[John48]

AJ needs to keep his jab peppering his face until he can't see anything to hit. Standstill & he'll be clobbered like he was last time.

 

[Spurus]

AJ needs to keep his jab peppering his face until he can't see anything to hit. Standstill & he'll be clobbered like he was last time.

I agree, but I saw an interview with Hearn saying he can't do that for 12 rounds, if it saves you from getting knocked out that would be my tactic!

 

[mrlilywhite]

AJ needs to keep his jab peppering his face until he can't see anything to hit. Standstill & he'll be clobbered like he was last time.

That's the thing that has always miffed me with Joshua. He doesn't always use his jab effectively and I have always thought that should be one of his biggest weapons. I agree with @Spurus with regards to using it for 12 rounds, I don't think Aj has the skillset or stamina to effectively box on the outside for 12 rounds. I personally feel that the later the fight goes the better it is for AJ, but that is only because of the extra taco's that Ruiz is carrying.

 

[soup]

This fight will be based on who can impose their style the strongest. Ruiz wins a streetfight, AJ wins a boxing match.

Don't get me wrong, I'd say Ruiz is arguably a better boxer with his combos and hand speed, but AJ has the tools to deal with that it he can implement a slower pace at more distance. He's no slouch, he has been the champ. If he uses what got him here he'll win, but if he goes in too fast again it'll be a similar outcome, and maybe even quicker. If he starts getting caught, those demons will return and he could freeze up again, so he has to control the pace of this fight.

Such a hard one to call due to the styles. I think AJ should pull it off, but wouldn't be surprised to see Ruiz do it in the first. Real strange one.

 

[Japhet]

Can't see Joshua being as bad as he was last time. He was complacent and didn't give Ruiz the respect. Ruiz however, knows that he can stop Joshua but I think coming in that much heavier is a bit risky. Joshua needs to keep his distance and make Ruiz keep moving which means he has to get his jab going. I think (hope) Joshua will up his game and be the fighter he should have been first time around.

 

[WalkerboyUK]

Can't see Joshua being as bad as he was last time. He was complacent and didn't give Ruiz the respect. Ruiz however, knows that he can stop Joshua but I think coming in that much heavier is a bit risky. Joshua needs to keep his distance and make Ruiz keep moving which means he has to get his jab going. I think (hope) Joshua will up his game and be the fighter he should have been first time around.

I don’t think AJ was complacent last time. It’s difficult to prepare for a completely different fighter in the last 5 weeks of camp.
It was an even fight for 2 rounds, with AJ also getting the first knock-down. The problem was that when he then went in to try and finish Ruiz he got caught good and proper. He just never recovered from that punch and Ruiz smelled blood and victory.

Tonight should be different. AJ knows what to expect. He should try and keep his distance and look for jabs and quick combos. If he tries to get too close he will get caught again.

I’m gonna miss it as I’m at ice hockey (bad planning)...

 

[dontcallme]

Can't see Joshua being as bad as he was last time. He was complacent and didn't give Ruiz the respect. Ruiz however, knows that he can stop Joshua but I think coming in that much heavier is a bit risky. Joshua needs to keep his distance and make Ruiz keep moving which means he has to get his jab going. I think (hope) Joshua will up his game and be the fighter he should have been first time around.

I think it was more a case of AJ trying to put on a show. He started well and got a clean knockdown and looked comfortable to finish him off. Then he didn't take his time at all. Most of the punches that knocked AJ down came after AJ got in a good shot of his own. He kept thinking he had him then got caught.

Interesting to see how he recovers from his defeat.

 

[dontcallme]

Any idea what times the main fights start?

 

[Japhet]

I think it was more a case of AJ trying to put on a show. He started well and got a clean knockdown and looked comfortable to finish him off. Then he didn't take his time at all. Most of the punches that knocked AJ down came after AJ got in a good shot of his own. He kept thinking he had him then got caught.

Interesting to see how he recovers from his defeat.

Yes. It looked like Ruiz was hurt and threw a load of haymakers and one of them connected.

 

[Thewobbler]

Any idea what times the main fights start?

I think i read it starts about 9pm

 

[dontcallme]

Whyte beat Wach on points. Povetkin coming up then AJ vs Ruiz after so main event starting around 9pm

 

[dontcallme]

Povetkin is so slow on the pinch nowadays. Guess he’s just looking to get a final payday.

 

[Gb160]

I think there's another fight after Povetkin before the main event, main event is probably closer to 10 o'clock.

 

[dontcallme]

I think there's another fight after Povetkin before the main event, main event is probably closer to 10 o'clock.

According to Sky Sports the ring walk is 8.45pm

 

[dontcallme]

Think Hunter wins on points. Just that bit quicker to the punch.

 

[Tottenhamboy85]

According to Sky Sports the ring walk is 8.45pm

They’ve just randomly added another fight before now