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I'm not a massive boxing fan but have always been interested in the heavyweight division growing up in the Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Holmes era but this program was brilliant (available on iPlayer).
The contributions by Stallone, Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard etc were excellent and the way it was shot with both close up, long range and slo-mo filming was very clever. In fact some of the footage was so brutal it really makes you think whether boxing should be banned.
Up there with Free Solo as a great sports film.
Cheers, look forward to that - only watched AJ Vs ARJr 1 yesterday, grim viewing for an AJ fan. 🙁
I know nothing of the program you speak of but was wondering today how saturdays fight will pan out.
Not sure that AJ took the first fight as seriously as he should but i expect a bit of a bounceback and hope he wins back his belts - I always support fellow Brits in any sport
Just a bummer i dont have the means to watch the fight live., assuming its only on sky box office or similar
Noticed the fight is showing at the local cinema and is certified ‘18’. very odd for a sport.
Hasn't Joshua signed exclusively with a streaming company. Should be online tomorrow, although maybe not in the UK.
Well DezB, this one has a graphic display of people punching each other’s faces in after all.
DAZN is only in the US. It’s on Sky Box Office here
Talking about the One Night documentary, it’s on iPlayer (BBC film). Just watched it, very good indeed.
@Kryton57 - guessing you’ve not seen many films lately. 15s & 12s have far more unsuitable content than 2 highly trained sportsmen competing in their chosen sport.
Just checked 25 ****ing quid on sky! That's a piss take!
I can understand Tyson and Ray Leonard giving their opinions ... but Stallone? he is an actor!
The heavyweight scene is as bad as I can ever remember. Tyson used to get some stick for only being dominant in an era very thin of decent heavyweights ... but this era has absolutely no decent heavyweights.
Joshua will keep his distance this time but I predict the same outcome as the 1st.
chewkw
Member
Joshua will keep his distance this time but I predict the same outcome as the 1st.
How is Ruiz going to chin him then if he keeps the distance?
How is Ruiz going to chin him then if he keeps the distance?
Opps ... misread ...
Ruiz just go mental when he is within the distance but this time he will need to put in more effort as Joshua will run ...
I think it'll be same again.
The programme is no more than a vehicle to sell the fight. Unfortunately I will be paying as I want to watch it although it won’t be anything like as ‘Rocky’ as the recent Tyson Fury fight.
Joshua will win this time though - I reckon it will be quite straight forward.
[i]The programme is no more than a vehicle to sell the fight[/i]
Except it's a BBC programme. And besides, that doesn't mean it wasn't entertaining - particularly Tyson's bits.
Yeah, Joshua wasn't motivated last time, was surprised when he got clocked by that hook. He'll be ready and won't take Ruiz lightly, so when he gets the knockdown, won't go in recklessly. Joshua will win this time.
No way I'm paying £25 though.
Yes looks like a bore-fest on the cards. Joshua will have a very safety first approach and only go for a stoppage if Ruiz is absolutely and totally spent.
Possibly a very late stoppage for Joshua or more likely a points win for him.
Ruiz was never that good hence why he got the original job - unfortunately Joshua isn’t too good either so things went off plan.
Not sure who Joshua fights next though. Wilder would decapitate him and Fury would make him look the mug he is.
Joshua weighs in at 16st 13lb - 10 lb lighter than last time
Champion Ruiz scales 20st 2lb - 15lb heavier than before
Wow - important numbers!
Champion Ruiz scales 20st 2lb – 15lb heavier than before
Living it up... unexpectedly reached the top, doesn't particularly care if he stays there..? (See Spinks, Douglas etc).
Points to a bit of a walkover... maybe.
It's funny though, even at those weights and with the differences in physique, Ruiz will still have more fitness stamina than Joshua.
I'm no expert but...Ruiz up by 15lbs to 20 stone; that's a lot of bulk for a 6' 2" frame; I think he's gained too much.
AJ down by 10lbs so should help with speed, movement and stamina; what impact on resilience and punching power?
If AJ can move Ruiz around the ring - hit'n'run - without running out of steam, he gets the title back.
Who wants this most? AJ for me but I wouldn't put money on him.
That's true up to a point, andykirk - Ruiz is probably the superior athlete at an innate level. He certainly looked it last time out. But contesting a world HW championship fight at 20 stone, 6 foot tall? Bloke's miles out of shape - though it would be close but reckon AJ will wreck him now.
Watching some of Ruiz's training videos he looks like he could box all day and not be out of puff, even at 20 stone. I think maybe that's what happens when you start fighting age 6. If AJ doesn't get him in the first 5 rounds (which I think he will) there could be trouble.
Really enjoyed the documentary. I won't be watching this weekend just like I didn't see the last fight but the documentary gave some great insight into the world of heavyweights. Tyson in particular was great as was having the the ref talk.
andykirk
Member
Watching some of Ruiz’s training videos he looks like he could box all day and not be out of puff, even at 20 stone. I think maybe that’s what happens when you start fighting age 6. If AJ doesn’t get him in the first 5 rounds (which I think he will) there could be trouble.
Totally agree. Ruiz is the natural fighter; and last time showed he was the better skilled boxer too.
!7 stone is still a very big heavyweight though - and he is 17 stone of muscle, so he will still be punching very hard despite being 10lb lighter. The weight loss will be for speed obviously, but also an attempt to stop him gassing around mid way as usual.
Its difficult to know if Ruiz has put on the extra weight from complacency and lack of focus, or if there is a genuine reason such as to help him absorb the punches he will be taking early on. Only he and his team will know if the weight has slowed him down .. Ruiz being a lifelong fatty I imagine the extra weight will not make a slight bit of difference to his foot or hand speed.
I beginning to lean towards Ruiz
Ruiz has fought at 21.2 stone in the past,maybe he knows he doesn't lose much in hand speed being heavier and fancies he will still beat Joshua to the punch with a bit more bulk behind it.Or he knows the millions he will get and has got has set him up for life and he isn't really bothered if he loses as life will be sweet either way,guess we'll find out.
Can’t believe anybody thinks Ruiz will win
Joshua will get to him
Eventually
I watched the first fight (not watching this time) but i reckon Ruiz has a very good chance of a win. Its got to really play on AJ how easily Ruiz consistently caught him.
djflexure
Subscriber
Can’t believe anybody thinks Ruiz will win
Joshua will get to him
Eventually
Really? do you know that Ruiz actually has beaten Joshua before ... like in Joshua`s last fight??
Ok let’s see
Thought that it may be close but I can't believe Ruiz can carry that much extra weight and be as effective as last time , and Joshua looks as good as ever and seems much more focussed this time . I wouldn't put my house on AJ but I strongly fancy him for the win this time round .
Ruiz was never that good hence why he got the original job – unfortunately Joshua isn’t too good either so things went off plan.
I think that is doing Ruiz a massive injustice . Outstanding amateur record and only 1 defeat as a pro in over 30 contests .
Ruiz did indeed have a good amateur career; Dominated the Mexican heavyweight scene ... now being a heavyweight in a country that produces great smaller weight boxers - and not too many boxer over the middleweight division kinda tells you he didn’t have too much competition anyways. That dominance in Mexico didn’t transfer when fighting internationally.
And take a look at his pro record. The best name on his record beat him and that guy had already been beaten by Joshua.
strongly recommend the documentary
who knows how it will go tonight, certainly dont expect it to be boring, if you do, remind yourself of how ruiz conducted himself last time.
...how easily Ruiz consistently caught him
You did watch the documentary? The reason he caught him easily was because AJ took Ruiz lightly - He knocked Ruiz down with the first decent punch he landed, well, that either of them landed, as Ruiz landed nothing for over 2 rounds. Joshua then thought, right, lets go home for tea, went wading in carelessly and got caught by a lovely hook, that, in Tyson’s words, made him all ‘****ed up’. He never recovered from the ****ed upness. All he has to do this time is not take one of those big shots. Land on Ruiz and its time for tea. Nothing to it (wink wink). But its boxing innit, who knows. Not even Mooman knows! 😂
And take a look at his pro record. The best name on his record beat him and that guy had already been beaten by Joshua.
Many knowledgeable boxing commentators though that was a very dodgy decision, even the president of the NZ boxing commission publicly stated he thought Parker had lost the fight by some margin.
DezB
Subscriber
All he has to do this time is not take one of those big shots. Land on Ruiz and its time for tea. Nothing to it (wink wink). But its boxing innit, who knows. Not even Mooman knows! 😂
Yep - that sounds a contest winning fight strategy.
And no - I am not confident of either guy winning. Ruiz knocked Joshua down a few times before stopping him last time - so as difficult as it is for those who dont know anything about boxing - it proves he has the beating of Joshua.
But you would think that Joshua this time will use his better physical advantages to keep the shorter Ruiz on the end of the jab until he can measure him for a right hand ... hence why I think that it has every chance of being a Klitchko-esque type jab & grab affair for many of the rounds in the hope that an opportunity arises to walk Ruiz into a right hand.
Annoyingly i'm really interested in the fight but think that buying the PPV is wrong on every level,thanks to anyone that does though as you are ensuring that PPV'S will be about £50 soon.Save up for some principles instead:).
You will be able to watch the fight on plenty of sites in the morning. To be honest I follow boxing, but not that big a fan to be that bothered about not being able to watch it as it happens ... the next morning is good for me.
And totally agree about the PPV. Its a TV tax for the stupid.
What time GMT is it on anyway?
^^Around 10pm uk time
Ring walk is at 8:45gmt, fight at 9pm.
Joshua will be up for it this time, last time around he was disheartened by the years events, booked Wembley but no one would face him, accused of ducking Wilder, had to go to America to get a fight, then big baby Miller caught doping, then everyone mocking his fat Mexican opponent, he probably felt he'd let his fans down and gave up before getting in the ring with a can't be arsed attitude, there's no denying he didn't look right or even warmed up, as Tyson Fury has pointed out.
He totally under estimated and actually liked Ruiz enough to let him hold his belts for a photo op, he wouldn't have let Wilder do that or anyone else for that matter, but this time around he wants revenge, forget the conspiracy theories, this time the real AJ turns up and uses his height and reach advantage to full effect.
I think ruiz wins again. Joshua is massively over rated, a poor man's Bruno. I can't help but think of the two fights David price had with Tony Thompson. Everyone thought the first fight was a bit of a fluke, then exactly same thing happened again as Price was shown up as not nearly as good as everyone thought!
I think it's the same with Joshua (albeit at a higher level). I think he'll look good for 2 rounds, get caught, and it'll be game over within 6.
Happy to be proven wrong.
boxing commentators though that was a very dodgy decision, even the president of the NZ boxing commission publicly stated he thought Parker had lost the fight by some margin.
Just checked - Ruiz v Parker was a very close fight and Barry Jones commentating had Parker winning. Not exactly a massive controversy.
This ain't gonna last 🙂
like a journalist
AJ boxing skills looking impressive. Ruiz still very dangerous.
Imagine if you’d paid £25 for that! Worst undercard in history, followed by... blah
I did pay for it, enjoyed it. Didn’t watch the undercard.
Was a very impressive boxing’s performance by AJ. Looked very good. Wasn’t explosive, but very professional.
Not very entertaining though ......!
“Thank you God, Eddie Hearn and Barry Hearn”......God is in illustrious company there!
I did pay for it
You wuz mugged.
Not a great fight, but an interesting tactical bout. Ruiz's size and style are just aj's kryptonite, I don't think there is any other way he could have fought that wouldn't have been a massive risk of losing again. He did look a bit afraid as well though, I think he still questions his own chin. I think he has leant that he needs to be a better boxer, and shown he can, but still needs a couple more fights to fully regain the confidence to add to the boxing before taking on Fury or Wilder. If I was either of them I would want him now not later.
I know. Enjoyed the first fight though. Not a fan of AJ, don’t feel he is as humble as he says he is.
But to be fair, he knew he couldn’t get into a close battle with Ruiz, as AJ says, it was the sweet science of boxing. And it really was. For me that made it enjoyable, I didn’t think AJ would have had the skills to change his game plan in the way he did.
I do like Ruiz though, he looks as hard as nails. If they go a third time, Ruiz has it for me.
Booooorrriiiinng. Glad it was a friend who paid for it. Needed some swords or at least the odd kick to the nuts and head butt.
Used to like watching boxing years ago but got fed up with all the hype. Same with lots of sports really.
wow. It was a great fight. What did you expect AJ to do coming from the last fight. He fought like Fury and Klitchko roiled into one. Fury gets praise for jabbing to victory I think for AJ to rewrite his style is mighty impressive.
Proved he’s no “poor man’s Bruno” thats fer sher.
Just saw the news that Joshua won the fight. 😬
Will watch it on Youtbue sometime later ...
Won by points so I guess it was jabbing contest? 🤔
... back to watching Japanese classic samurai movies ...
Won by points so I guess it was jabbing contest? 🤔
wasnt' really a jabbing contest, ruiz just couldn't get by the jab though, so aye kinda. 😆
wasnt’ really a jabbing contest, ruiz just couldn’t get by the jab though, so aye kinda. 😆
It would be silly not to use his long jab advantage to play safe considering this is a rematch. Anyone who can keep Ruiz at a distance will win.
Want to see Joshua fight Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder and if he can beat those two convincingly then he can claim he is the best otherwise he is still not there yet.
MSP's assessment is pretty spot-on for me. Joshua had a job to do and executed his plan almost perfectly. It was never going to be as exciting as the first fight because Joshua couldn't allow that to happen. He needed to control the fight and he did.
I think Joshua would struggle against Wilder or Fury. Given the rumours of AJ's sparring knockout and being rocked so hard in the first Ruiz fight I'd say he wants to avoid Wilder at all costs. Best case scenario for him is that Fury beats Wilder and then AJ can possibly get a result against Fury. It would certainly be a worthwhile payday regardless of result.
I think he would struggle against Fury more than Wilder. Accepting that if Wilder were to connect it would be over.
cheekymonkey888
Member
wow. It was a great fight ... He fought like Fury and Klitchko roiled into one
Wow that’s really selling it to me🥴
Two of the most boring boxers of recent times rolled into one😂
Joshua will get hyped back up as before by his fan base; women and the casuals who both know next to nothing about boxing ... it’s tricky to see if Hearn will cash in now and goes for a Wilder or Fury match knowing 95% chance Joshua loses but gets a huge pay day. Or if he goes back fighting the tomato cans for less money but less risk.
One good thing to come out of the Ruiz loss for Hearn is that now they can sell a match against the worse opponent and make it sellable off the back of Joshua dodgy whiskers.
Thankfully I didn't pay but still got to watch after a mate in oz gave me a web address to use. I'll probably have my bank emptied now and my Facebook hacked but I'm still 25 quid better off.
Controlled and stuck to the game plan. Big fight at home against fury is what should be next, whether it will happen is another matter.
It was absolutely the right tactics from Joshua but he looked horribly uncomfortable. He was so nervous. He simply should not be struggling against a 20 stone slob like Ruiz, even if he does have fast hands and power. There should be a massive gulf between them. Joshua looked in danger whenever he tried to tie Ruiz up. Ruiz would break the clinch with ease and launch a couple of bombs and you could see Joshua not knowing what to do. His jab's also not powerful and dominant enough.
His team have done the right work to win the belts back but he looked so unnatural doing it.
Fury boxes his head off and the moment Wilder lands, it's game over.
One more defence against Usyk by the sounds of it, then the winner of Wilder Fury will send him into retirement I reckon.
Fury and Wilder are equally flawed, Fury can box but has no real knockout power, Wilder is probably the worst boxer of the lot of them and has to depend on one punch, which I am not sure is even as hard as Joshuas best. It is interesting because they all have there flaws.
Joshua's jab was snapping Ruiz's head back last night. Ruiz is tough as nails, bit IMO that gives Wilder a proplem. Fury would mainly avoid the jab, but then Joshua doesn't have to worry about the knockout power from Fury as much and can afford to let his hands go much more. I don't think any prospective fight between the three is particularly predictable in terms of result, but it is nonsense to be writing Joshua off.
The joker in the pack now could be Ruiz, he had a taste of the big time, he is perhaps the most naturally talented boxer of the lot. Joshua's edge before his defeat was his physique, when he lost he went straight back in the gym and concentrated on boxing. Could Ruiz do the same form the other side, now that he has had a taste, could he work on his physique and athleticism and deliver a body to allow his talent to really shine.
Proved he’s no “poor man’s Bruno” thats fer sher.
I still think Bruno beats him more times than not.
Even happier I didn't pay for it given ruiz's comments afterwards about not being fully prepared. He's the champion of the world and he couldn't stay off the cakes for 3 months. Man didn't deserve my money..
The comparisons to Bruno and Joshua are credible. Both are superbly built with very heavy hands, and both were not natural fighters. Where they differ is in the chin dept; Bruno had a decent chin and simply did not know what to do when hurt, he just froze and enabled his opponents to finish him off. Joshua from lots of accounts from training camps and the Ruiz fight does not have a sturdy chin.
Fury is an ugly fighter and does not possess a dynamite big punch; but he can punch hard enough to get the respect of his opponents, otherwise the likes of Klitschko, Chisora and Wilder would have simply walked through his punches.
Wilder had an amazing amateur record for someone who started boxing at 20yrs old - and only 35 amateur fights, so dont underestimate him boxing ability - he just relies too much on his devastating punch power. There is little doubt he would only need to land 1 of those punches on Joshua.
Ruiz is just a slob. I cant imagine him accomplishing anything now with a few more million in his account. If he wasnt motivated to train for his first defence and an expectation of even bigger riches, then nothing will motivate him now.
Usyk could be the danger for Joshua now. He is mandatory. Whilst Usyk is unlikely to hit as hard as Ruiz, he will be more skilled and if Joshua is still lacking confidence about his chin he could be outworked.
I paid for the fight as well. The atmosphere in Saudi Arabia wasn’t the best but money talks I guess.
Ruiz was in poor shape if I’m honest, he’s supposed to be the heavyweight champion! AJ did well but I get the impression that he is punch shy, where in fact he is doubting his own punch resistance. However fair play to him for getting the titles back.
As for Ruiz, I can’t see him making much of boxing now, if he cannot get motivated for this fight he won’t get motivated for another opponent neither, especially if he had a few ££millions in the bank now.
Where they differ is in the chin dept
I disagree (if that is actually allowed) - No way could Bruno have put on a display of movement like Joshua did last night. Which is what I meant by my comment.
It is a shame he’s got the fear now, he was good to watch when he thought he was indestructible. Now he’ll play safe in every fight. Imagine Holyfield coming in like that against someone who’d beaten him previously... Evander was like ‘come on then, lets have ya!’ AJ’s now ‘Please don’t hit me’. Bit of a let down.
I don't follow boxing, but saw a news clip, and thought , who is the short fat guy squaring up to a tall very lean fella....
Its fine to disagree. I am not too sure Bruno would have actually lost to a Ruiz - in fact, its hard to imagine many former modern day belt holders losing to such a guy.
Holyfield is one the most under rated heavyweight champions in my book. Certainly in the top 3 of all time.
Not a bad nights work for Ruiz, do **** all training, eat and party like a champion, still pick up a wage that would embarrass a footballer.
I am not too sure Bruno would have actually lost to a Ruiz
No chance Bruno would have list to Ruiz.
And you are dead right about his chin, he took some absolutely brutal shots against tyson at the end of the fight and was still standing. Had no sense of self preservation.
who is the short fat guy squaring up to a tall very lean fella….
I bet you were the first person to notice that too.
I don't think Bruno was as good as he seems to be getting credit for . 40 wins 5 defeats says very good but not absolutely top tier . Joshua 1 defeat totally avenged and twice world heavyweight champ is , for me a fair bit better than Bruno .
I don’t think Bruno was as good as he seems to be getting credit for . 40 wins 5 defeats says very good but not absolutely top tier . Joshua 1 defeat totally avenged and twice world heavyweight champ is , for me a fair bit better than Bruno .
Probably fair but Frank was good - not an elite pfp type fighter but world level no problem - 4 of those defeats were against the absolute top tier, not the Andy Ruiz Jrs of the fight game.
Like mooman said above he seemed to just lack that extra bit of ringcraft that could take him out of troubled waters - got KO'd by Smith and Witherspoon right at the death both times.
I don’t think Bruno was as good as he seems to be getting credit for . 40 wins 5 defeats says very good but not absolutely top tier
3 of those came against top 20 all time great heavies. Witherspoon was also a top notch two time world champ.
Bruno wasn't absolute top tier but he'd not have lost to Ruiz. No chance..
Based on what?