Did Andy Ruiz ruin Anthony Joshua?

[NoConcoms]

I don't think he was ruined, so much as exposed. Because seeing Andy since then, he hasn't exactly looked like a world beater.

I just don't think AJ is/was as good as people thought.

[PRINCEKOOL]

No, people are getting carried away and don't really know what they are watching.

This is Joshua's first win for over 2 years. Franklin is a proven solid fighter 'That is two fights now back to back, were Franklin has put in a good performance at a high level'.

Sometimes as a fighter, you just have to get the win 'And Joshua has did just that'.

Yes, I was expecting Joshua to have a more dominant win 'But when you with a level perception analyse the performance? Joshua won easily, he won approximately 10 rounds and was never really in threat if losing'.

People need to think back to Tyson Fury being busted up and barely beating Ottin Wallin, was Fury ruined at that point in his career? No.

Joshua is still held to a higher standard than most other Heavyweights 'Threads like this prove that statement'.

The important thing tonight is that Joshua got the win, it was a satisfactory performance against a solid enough fighter 'A performance he can put more work on, to move onto higher levels' Joshua is still in the game, he is still a major player and he is still a threat.

Boxing is not always a upward trajectory, definitely not on fight night 'Sometimes fighters have just got to get the win, the trajectory and real work happens inside the gym'.

[mrbig1]

This reminds me of the Bute vs Froch fight. Bute was killing everybody before he took a beating from Froch and was never the same. AJ has never recovered from the Ruiz beatdown. Stick a fork in him he's done. If he fights one or two bums, he might fight Fury for a nice check.

[Regge]

I think the Ruiz effect probably gets overblown. Would beating Ruiz that night have lead to him being able to beat Usyk? I doubt it.

You doubt it but you can't be sure either.

Let's say he never lost to ruiz and came into the usyk fight with full confidence going after usyk and blitzing him would also be possible but we'll never know.

Ruiz undoubtedly took his heart

[ShoulderRoll]

Tyson Fury would whip Joshua at this point. No contest.

And best keep AJ far away from Wilder.

[FinitoxDinamita]

Joshua only focused on what he wants to do against his opponents but after Ruiz fked him up, he worries too much about what his oppositions might do to him as he second guesses himself. He is not the same fighter. Some guys learn and elevate their games after suffering first losses but Joshua isn't one of them. He may still have it physically, but mentally he is shot. His confidence is no longer there. I was watching the Wlad fight the other day and i could barely recognize Joshua. He had so much more conviction back then.

He is done at the top level but the division can always use more solid gate keepers.

[HeadShots]

that loss scrambled his brain badly. his confidence was shaken and never centred again

whenever he talks now he just looks like he's acting over-confident rather than being purely confident. he's not one of those mentally iron clad guys like Lennox or Foreman.

[Al Faz]

He def needs a sports psychologist but he is too proud to have one. Ignorance is bliss I guess

[Toffee]

Tyson Fury would whip Joshua at this point. No contest.

And best keep AJ far away from Wilder.

If either believed that it wouldn't be any kind of contest then they'd be racing to earn that easy money and credibility. Joshua on their resumes changes things for both of them historically.

[BodyBagz]

AJ was flying high and the next big thing. He was going to make his triumphant debut on American soil at the fabled Madison Square Garden...and that night is when the wheels fell off.

Seems to me he hasn't been the same since.

They were both ''ruined''
More so Andy.