Problem with AJ's career

[O Prophet]

Problem with AJ career is that they moved him too fast. Wilder had 40 plus Pro fights in obscurity for him to quietly learn against bums and veterans for 10 plus years as a Pro. He had shaky situations, suffered knock downs (Nichols, Sconiers), and learned how to survive and deal with them. Those fights toughen you.

AJ started boxing late and was pushed to become champion at like 16-17 fights. And had only boxed pro for less than 5 years. That's not enough time. Also, once you become champ, all limelights and pressure is on you and you have to worry about looking good and not losing. It's not as easy to learn anymore.

After the Klitschko fight, AJ should have had at least another 4-5 fights against people like Szpilka, Duhaupas, Arreola, Jennings, etc, before stepping up against Prime champion level fighters like Parker and Ruiz. Should have fought a few gatekeepers that would test him, but won't hurt him too bad.

Instead they rushed AJ. He was lucky to get past Whyte(torn shoulder), Klitschko(old), and Parker (ref saved AJ). But his lack of experience and survival skill finally got exposed against the Mexican Ruiz.

AJ needs another 7-8 fights against lower opposition, and 4-5 years to rebuild and learn, before he even thinks about fighting Wilder, if he's serious about having a chance to win.

[deathofaclown]

You’re probably right but what are they going to do? Move backwards from fighting in stadiums and making huge money?

It’s a business and they had to take the money while they could. Every fight might be your last or you might get a career ending injury. So you can’t just stagnate and play the long game when there’s that kind of money sitting there because you might never get there anyway.

what if he’d have slowed down his career, fought Ruiz in what they thought was a progression fight and got beaten? He would be in a much worse situation in every aspect.

Let’s be fair, Ruiz was not some top ranked heavyweight. On paper he had already beaten better fighters than Ruiz, so i don’t think it’s anything to do with being rushed.

[MDPopescu]

(...)

AJ needs another 7-8 fights against lower opposition, and 4-5 years to rebuild and learn, before he even thinks about fighting Wilder, if he's serious about having a chance to win.

... he rather needs "another" Emanuel Steward -- which isn't possible...

[O Prophet]

Let’s be fair, Ruiz was not some top ranked heavyweight. On paper he had already beaten better fighters than Ruiz, so i don’t think it’s anything to do with being rushed.

Anyone who follows HW boxing closely knows Ruiz has been one of the best Heavyweights in the world for a while. You can't judge people by appearance. The Parker fight in New Zealand was a horrible robbery. Other than that, dude was undefeated and in his prime.

On paper AJ beat Parker, but if we're being honest, U.K. Ref saved AJs ass in that fight. This is America.

[Fanofreason]

AJ is just not very good.

Guy fold under pressure.

America brings out the frauds. AJ is a fraud.

[deathofaclown]

Anyone who follows HW boxing closely knows Ruiz has been one of the best Heavyweights in the world for a while. You can't judge people by appearance. The Parker fight in New Zealand was a horrible robbery. Other than that, dude was undefeated and in his prime.

He thing is, it wasn’t an awful robbery in New Zealand. It was a close fight that could’ve gone either way. Let’s not rewrite history. Most people were split on who won.

I thought Ruiz could’ve done more and won, but he didn’t do enough at times, he said so himself. So before the AJ fight, you could even accuse Ruiz of letting his biggest moment get the better of him and not performing how he can.

Plus, as i said ON PAPER, you would rank Wlad, Povetkin above him. Parker pretty much on par with him etc..

There’s nothing on his record to suggest he is any better than guys AJ has beaten. We know he has ability, but in his big chance v Parker, he didn’t exactly shine and Parker is no killer. So the evidence suggested that despite his ability, that was roughly his proven level.

[MulaKO]

... he rather needs "another" Emanuel Steward -- which isn't possible...

Funny how we all lokoked over and said Emmanuel Steward
Gone but never forgotten

What’s your take on Sugar Hill
He and Jonathan Banks were being moulded as the heirs to his throne

[Sun_Tzu]

I dont see the problem. I mean from a purely financial point of view his career has been a massive success and from a boxing point of view, I mean he didnt die saturday night. If one loss ended your career we would have missed out on alot of great fighters over the years. People put too much into a loss just they put to much into an undefeated record.

[deathofaclown]

... he rather needs "another" Emanuel Steward -- which isn't possible...

He’s friends with Wlad. Maybe he should bring him into camp to work with his trainer and teach him how to use his size against smaller men.

[MulaKO]

I dont see the problem. I mean from a purely financial point of view his career has been a massive success and from a boxing point of view, I mean he didnt die saturday night. If one loss ended your career we would have missed out on alot of great fighters over the years. People put too much into a loss just they put to much into an undefeated record.

Well said
If they worried about their O the yesteryears , the sport of boxing as we know it would not exist