Joshua's next fight will likely be a return clash with Ruiz towards the end of the year. You can bet your life there's a rematch clause in the contract.
If Wilder was so sure that AJ was a fraud, then why has he turned down £50m for an easy nights work? ****ing idiot. Huge setback for AJ, but as I’ve always said, I don’t think there’s ever been a heavyweight champion who hasn’t been knocked out or stopped from the listen of great ones over the last 100 years. A lot of the weaknesses and things he needs to work on got exposed last night. Physically he may have looked great on the eye but he looked over muscular and that has to have an impact on legs, stamina, and speed- which he showed none of last night. The other thing I hated was the whole “next fight Wilder or Fury”. Eddie Hearn needed to cut that talk and worry about it after the fight, not before it.Joshua has learnt a very important lesson about mentality for the future. Lennox Lewis took Hasim Rahman lightly and Joshua had the exact same traits as Lennox did that night. Slow, a little surprised, and unable to dig into the his usually deep reserves. At least now we might get decent odds on him “upsetting” Wilder now? Looking forward now to the people who have backed against Joshua for the last ten fights saying “I told you he would lose” . The hindsight kings will out in force I’m sure. However- let’s also credit Ruiz Jr- a first ever Mexican heavyweight champ and who was willing to go toe to toe.
Flash knockouts are easier to come back from than taking a proper beating. He will be back but I think he needs a new, more defensive trainer.
Movement and defence have always been lacking with Joshua and as always stamina, he's too muscular he needs to strip down a bit and come in leaner. We didn't see the true Joshua last night something was amiss but neither is he the superstar he's hyped up to be. He'll bounce back and win the rematch. Losses can make careers, it'll do him good to know he's not invincible and can learn and come back a better fighter
Just watched the fight. Very poor from Joshua. Couldn't finish it in the 3rd, got caught and looked scared after that. Quit on his feet. He won't want Wilder after that
I'm not convinced Joshua will learn from that. He didn't learn from Round 3. He is simply vulnerable to someone who can fight and take a punch; and always will be
Well, Wladmir came back from an horrendous beating again Corey Sanders and invested in Manny Steward to resurrect his career. AJ will be back, but we have know for a while now he will never be a legendary fighter.
Manny Steward god bless him, what a trainer that man was. If he was still with us he’d be someone I’d love Joshua to learn from. I have a lot of time for Rob McCracken but I do think he’s set AJ up similar to Carl Froch in that he relies on the power and strength as opposed to being cuter and using physical advantages. As Froch went on he did use his jab more effectively but at the end of the day a lion is a lion- AJ is a fighter by heart and his power has been his biggest strength. We saw trainers try to change Ricky Hatton and it was hard. Froch in the end still had to rely on that granite chin at times. It will be very interesting to see how they go about it from here. Big test for AJ, Rob McCracken and also one very important test for Eddie Hearn- it’s been an easy gravy train thus far for him but this is where he has to earn his money now in plotting the path forward.
Yes Manny was a very special trainer and man. But in order for AJ to rebuild, he has to have the raw tools. I just don't think he has that raw talent of a Lennox Lewis. Lennox always had a game plan for all fighters. Even when the plan didn't quite work, he had the raw ability to adapt at anytime during the fight. I don't think AJ possesses those traits.
I'd agree with that assessment, I don't think AJ has many strings to his bow and although obviously a very accomplished amateur fighter he doesn't seem to possess much of a boxing brain. You can see it in his face and in the way he fights when it isn't going to plan, he almost looks lost and struggles to adapt. And I still stand by what I've said before in that the current heavyweight division is piss poor.
The main problem with Fury is that he doesn't carry a big punch. Doesn't seem to have that "killer" instinct. He is just difficult to beat. Wilder went very close. I still don't know how he got up and continued after that Wilder knock down.
He's growing on me but I'm still undecided on him as a boxer. I was impressed by him against Wilder. His movement for his size is unbelievable and the use of his jab against Wilder was excellent. I just can't put my finger on it though, maybe it's his style or awkwardness but I just can't warm to him as a fighter.
Eddie Hearn must be feeling sick to his stomach. After all the heat between Wilder's people and Matchroom, he's gone and handed all those belts into the enemy's hands. Al Haymon's Premier Boxing Champions have had the last laugh.
I've just read some interesting stuff on a rematch. It looks as though Al Haymon has Hearn by the balls. A second fight between Ruiz and Joshua doesn't trump a mandatory defence. Instead of the November or December rematch that Hearn wants, it appears that the WBO and or the IBF could force a defence on Ruiz before Joshua gets his chance.
This will be where we see all the titles go in all directions and we end up with some terrible champions and even worse fights
