5 years ago today. The day the hype died.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Crazy it’s been 5 years since Ruiz upset AJ. NSB was a crazy place back then, you had nutters like Juggs and **** Em claiming AJ was the GOAT Heavyweight.

[famicommander]

All this because Miller popped for PEDs and Dillian Whyte didn't want the smoke.

[deathofaclown]

Time goes fast!

Was it the same night as Liverpool v Spurs Champions League final? For some reason I have it in my head I was watching that match at someone's house and then went home to watch this card.

What a crazy night that was. All sensible boxing fans knew AJ would lose at some point, but I don't think many thought it would be Andy Ruiz at short notice that kept bouncing him off the canvas.

Persoon also battered Taylor that night and got robbed.

[TheProudLunatic]

Was this a bigger fluke than the rest ?

Obviously, Andy beating AJ was an epic fluke.
0 successful defenses

[deathofaclown]

Was this a bigger fluke than the rest ?

Obviously, Andy beating AJ was an epic fluke.
0 successful defenses

I wouldn't call it a fluke.

Ruiz is a good fighter, if he wasn't so lazy and actually got active he would have been in the mix around the levels of Parker, Hrgovic, Zhang, AJ etc etc.

These fighters are all capable of beating each other on the night.

Ruiz has ability, but we saw his mentality, coming into his first defence around 300lbs and clearly been living the life.

Definitely not a fluke, just a night where a good fighter with poor discipline actually turned up ready.

[TheProudLunatic]

I wouldn't call it a fluke.

Ruiz is a good fighter, if he wasn't so lazy and actually got active he would have been in the mix around the levels of Parker, Hrgovic, Zhang, AJ etc etc.

These fighters are all capable of beating each other on the night.

Ruiz has ability, but we saw his mentality, coming into his first defence around 300lbs and clearly been living the life.

Definitely not a fluke, just a night where a good fighter with poor discipline actually turned up ready.

Most def a fluke.
I don't GAF about excuses for failing to keep a title/momentum.
Excuses should be things women boxers use.

Andy beating AJ is up there with Jake beating SRR

[CubanGuyNYC]

I wouldn't call it a fluke.

Ruiz is a good fighter, if he wasn't so lazy and actually got active he would have been in the mix around the levels of Parker, Hrgovic, Zhang, AJ etc etc.

These fighters are all capable of beating each other on the night.

Ruiz has ability, but we saw his mentality, coming into his first defence around 300lbs and clearly been living the life.

Definitely not a fluke, just a night where a good fighter with poor discipline actually turned up ready.

Agreed. I saw Ruiz fight prior to the match with Joshua. I was impressed with his skills and speed, especially given his physical appearance. Although it surprised me he KOed AJ, it didn’t shock me. Andy obviously has what it takes to hang around the top — if he can stay disciplined.

[Quiksilva]

AJ is decent and we are lucky to have him. I think he's the hardest hitter in the division right now. But him being an all-time great of Heavyweights?

Uncertain of it. Time will tell when he hangs it up. He has provided us very good fights and is willing to take on anyone.

[Gladiator18]

And then Ruiz literally gift wrapped the title back to AJ a few months later.

If only Ruiz trained for the rematch, he could have beaten AJ again, AJs career would look a whole lot different in that case

[786]

I was very critical of AJ back then but respect him more now. He's shown good character with avenging his Ruiz loss, was competitive against Usyk both times and actually gave him a hard time in their rematch. Has been active recently with good performances.

He might not have those signature wins like Fury has but has been a more consistent and reliable heavyweight during the course of his career. Yeah, he got a lot of hype early on but like others have already stated, no one was calling him an ATG and the best ever like they do with Fury and from my perspective he's better than I thought he was whereas Fury seems worse than once thought. The Ngannou and Usyk fights showed that when Fury's opponents can negate his physical advantages, he's nowhere near as effective. Add to that, the fact that Fury has always come up with some sort of excuse anytime an AJ fight has been close to being made.

There isn't much between AJ and Fury, they're the 2nd/3rd best of this generation but we may never find out who's no. 2 and who's no.3.