Ellerbe Predicts Ruiz Wins Again: He Has Joshua's Number
Nov 21, 2019 • 9:39 AM ET
MGM GRAND, LAS VEGAS - Andy Ruiz shocked the world on June 1st when he knocked out Anthony Joshua in 7 rounds in New York. Ruiz went down early but was able to recover and sent the heavily favored Joshua to the canvas on multiple occasions before the referee waived off the fight with Joshua on his feet.
Joshua exercised his immediate rematch clause and the two will renew acquaintances on December 7th in Saudi Arabia. Like the first fight, the second will be streamed in the United States on DAZN which has an output deal with Joshua's promoter Matchroom.
Mayweather Promotions' CEO Leonard Ellerbe, who is co-promoting the Deontay Wilder-Luis Ortiz 2 showdown this Saturday, believes that Ruiz will once again defeat Joshua.
"Yeah, I think he has his number because when it comes down to it it is confidence. I think that he will do well the early rounds but as soon as Ruiz is able to run off some of his shit, that confidence is going to go out the window. That is just kind of how it goes once you have been stopped the way he has been stopped. Once Ruiz gets it going - it is going to be all down hill," Ellerbe told BoxingScene.com.
Ellerbe expects both men to enter the ring with a renewed vigor. Joshua has stated in interviews that he is extremely motivated and has a chip on his shoulder while Ruiz has slimmed down and gotten into better shape in this training camp and is eager to prove that his victory wasn't a fluke.
In the end Elllerbe believes that Ruiz's style matches up perfectly with Joshua and that he will take over in the second half of the fight to retain his WBA/WBO/IBF heavyweight titles.
"I think that he still has a tremendous amount of hunger. I know that him and Manny have a few tricks up their sleeve for Joshua. Joshua will definitely be better but it just won't be enough. Joshua will definitely be better early in the fight but it won't be enough," said Ellerbe.
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