Comments Thread For: Andy Ruiz Could See Joshua Getting Revenge on Usyk in Saudi Arabia

[VislorTurlough]

Joshua fanboys here never seen to consider that he may be in decline. Maybe he is. Maybe he isn’t.

[Roberto Vasquez]

I mean Ruiz could be right, but I think that's more of a hopeful thing than a realistic thing. Usyk had an insane amateur record, he's an exceptional fighter. AJ has a chance but I think this fight is 70/30 in Usyk's favor. AJ can only win by KO, he has to take risks.

Joshua fanboys here never seen to consider that he may be in decline. Maybe he is. Maybe he isn’t.

Why would he be in decline?? He's 5 years behind Fury and Wilder in his career. He's not old. He boxed very well against Usyk but Usyk is just better.

[Quercusalba]

Ruiz beat AJ because he sc****d himself off the canvas, stepped back into the pocket, and landed a perfect (lucky?) punch. I'm not taking anything away from Ruiz. That fight was a real donnybrook and Andy dug deeper and won. AJ was simply not going to allow that to happen in their rematch and implemented the tools and strategy to see that it didn't. I'm not one who dumps on AJ for his performance in the Ruiz rematch. There was a low-risk path to victory, and he took it.

The Usyk rematch is, however, the perfect inverse of the Ruiz rematch. He can't fight Usyk at range or off the back foot. Not engaging Olek the way he did Ruiz isn't an option, because he isn't nimble or athletic enough to do it. If he tries, Usyk will engage and dismantle him. When the Cat gets his opponent to start backing or circling to their own left, they're lost. See his fights against Gassiev, Bellew, Hunter, Huck, etc.

AJ needs to maul Usyk, but can he? No one has yet. AJ's task here is to beat a faster, more athletic, more agile, more skilled (but yes, smaller) opponent who also has better stamina and better punch resistance. That is a very tall order.

[MONGOOSE66]

Sorry Mongoose, but I disagree on the basis that there is a severe talent gulf between Joshua and Usyk.
As I said before and after the first bout way back when, Joshua should have gone into that fight as the underdog.

By now, surely everyone round here can see someone with an extensive amateur career has the beating of anyone without such 29 times out of 30.

I agree, experience is a big advantage. That’s why I think Joshua will adjust and win. Joshua doesn’t know how to use his size against small , fast men. He SHOULD know now. If not, that’s his problem.

[Bob]

A.J has a habit crushing those dreams , Martin , Ruiz now Usyk up next . Giving A.J two losses in a row is not going to be so easy . You’ll see a complete 360 on the forum as usual . Anyone coming up hoping to be a defending champion has to basically beat him twice and I don’t see that happening anytime soon .

Keep in mind when he does win the forum will claim Usyk was not a real champion because he didn’t defend the titles and these same posters will be the ones talking as if Usyk was going to kill A.J and make him retire just like they did with Ruiz .

Have you even watched the first fight?
Your comparing Martin to Usyk?? Mexican butterbean to Usyk??

I've rewatched a couple of times now & the gulf in speed, timing & movement gets wider every time i watch. Aj has only ever looked good against shot 38-41 year olds (4of6) & its no coincidence the last 2 he boxed of his own generation both beat him.

AJ's only relevant through rematchroom paperwork & has ducked or blocked undesputed 3 times! Since 18

[Bob]

I mean Ruiz could be right, but I think that's more of a hopeful thing than a realistic thing. Usyk had an insane amateur record, he's an exceptional fighter. AJ has a chance but I think this fight is 70/30 in Usyk's favor. AJ can only win by KO, he has to take risks.



Why would he be in decline?? He's 5 years behind Fury and Wilder in his career. He's not old. He boxed very well against Usyk but Usyk is just better.

What fight did you watched?
He boxed very well? You seriously think that?
He followed Usyk round the ring like a mummy all night like Usyk had him on a leash. Aj had a good 5 & 6 but the 7th onwards all he did was push out single touch shots he was so clueless & probably gassed.
That's what happens when you fight a string of shot 38-41 year olds, you bound to look & feel fast. No coincidence the last 2 he boxed of his own generation both beat him with speed which Aj doesn't have.
His size is a disadvantage against a real boxer.

[Bob]

I agree, experience is a big advantage. That’s why I think Joshua will adjust and win. Joshua doesn’t know how to use his size against small , fast men. He SHOULD know now. If not, that’s his problem.

Ajs size body type & build is a disadvantage if he's not in against shot 38-41 yr olds like most of his title fights.
He can't suddenly become quicker, reduce his arteries so he doesn't gas so easily.
Fans like you alway's say he'll adjust & win but never say how? Alway's he'll use his size but how? He doesn't have Fury's tank or iq & Usyk isn't going to just stand there feet widely planted like Wilder.

But you know what, if say Aj does go for it emptying the tank & catches Usyk to the body where he has been hurt & down before,( its on youtube) I'll applaud because i don't think he has it in him. That will also mean Fury will have to put up or shut up. I'm sick of this generation of heavies, though Usyk is a breath of fresh air.

[Bob]

I mean Ruiz could be right, but I think that's more of a hopeful thing than a realistic thing. Usyk had an insane amateur record, he's an exceptional fighter. AJ has a chance but I think this fight is 70/30 in Usyk's favor. AJ can only win by KO, he has to take risks.



Why would he be in decline?? He's 5 years behind Fury and Wilder in his career. He's not old. He boxed very well against Usyk but Usyk is just better.

To your out of context plain Fury hate signature rob,
Fury has beaten 2 world number 1s for all the belts in theyre own back yards as the underdog, he's had the greatest trilogy since Bowe Holyfield & Whyte #4 in the last couple of year's.
Aj though has never boxed a top 2 heavyweight & don't say Klitschko he was unranked in the tbrb before the fight.

[JakeTheBoxer]

Part of me wants to see Joshua knock Usyk out, so Fury would come back and beat this bodybuilder badly.

Unfortunately, Usyk is probably too good for Joshua. Another win for Usyk, realistically.

[MastaBlasta]

After re-watching the first fight, the loss (to Usyk) wasn't as bad as it seemed to me the first time around. AJ was in the fight for most of it, he didn't open up and attack much though. He didn't take very many risks.

He will have to take some big risks and find a way to successfully attack Usyk and hurt him. This would be uncharted territory for Usyk, to be hurt and seriously on the defensive. That said, Usyk is one of the better technical boxers in the sport. Unless he is very hurt, he will remain very dangerous. His improvisation and ability to counter-punch and quickly counter-attack is something AJ hasn't experienced from anyone but Ruiz. Attacking Usyk all-out is a risky proposition.

For AJ though, that may be his best ticket to a win. Take the risks and mount some serious aggression over many rounds, and effectively hurt Usyk. Some big, strong guys tried it as amatuers and it didn't work. Chisora tried it, had early success, but paid for it in the later rounds. It can be a successful strategy if he can keep it up and work his way into actually hurting Usyk. AJ is among a short list of fighters big enough and good enough to maybe pull it off. Maybe.

Usyk however will not take any strategy standing still. He has fought many bigger, stronger guys, and he has always had the skills to stay out of trouble ... while his boxing and improv skills get him opportunities to hurt his opponent. He is not afraid to "find his way" ... kinda like fighters do in a street fight. He can be very relaxed and stylish under pressure much like Ali used to be. Unless he gets hurt badly (and maybe even then) he always remains dangerous.

Whoever wins this rematch will probably have earned it (barring some referee or judging shenanigans). Usyk is and should be favored, but there are paths for AJ to win too.

If AJ does win, there will HAVE to be a trilogy fight ...