Should Joshua Go Into A Immediate Rematch vs Ruiz?

[GhostofDempsey]

I also have to wonder how much AJ's heart is still in the game. He looked like "whatever" during the entire fight and even when the fight was stopped he didn't protest the outcome. Post fight he still seemed indifferent, as though he couldn't care less. Maybe it was a front, or perhaps it hadn't sunk in yet, but this happens a lot when fighters start making big money and they are no longer hungry. He definitely wasn't the same fighter who picked himself up off the canvas to beat Klitschko.

[Eff Pandas]

He should. Rewatched the fight a few hours ago and there was no sustained beating neither. Still take some time off though, he needs to do a bit of soul searching.

He got hurt badly multiple times in this fight. He went down 4 damn times. He looked completely space cadet'd out at the stoppage.

This wasn't a run of the mill L. This was an ass whipping. Granted Joshua had moments even after the 3rd round, but he never seemed to fully get his senses back & it was the Ruiz show almost the whole way.

[JakeTheBoxer]

I don`t think so. Better take some time, fight fringe contender level guys, make his game better, and then come back to big scene. Guys like Ruiz, Fury, Wilder will always be there for him when he recovers.

[HandsofIron]

This seems like a horrible idea to me.

I can't recall a time when a guy took a sustained beating like Joshua did + get knocked down so many times + eventually stopped & had a good result in a immediate rematch at this level of the game.

And even if its happened I know the odds are horrible at someone reversing this type of L.

Yeah, Joshua has to take the rematch to redeem himself. And I believe AJ's team will study Ruiz's loss to Joseph Parker extensively and implore Joshua to use a "stick & move" strategy.

Basically, AJ's going to run in the rematch, safety-first style. It won't be as dramatic and amazing as the first fight but Joshua might end up with a W regardless.

[Eff Pandas]

I also have to wonder how much AJ's heart is still in the game. He looked like "whatever" during the entire fight and even when the fight was stopped he didn't protest the outcome. Post fight he still seemed indifferent, as though he couldn't care less. Maybe it was a front, or perhaps it hadn't sunk in yet, but this happens a lot when fighters start making big money and they are no longer hungry. He definitely wasn't the same fighter who picked himself up off the canvas to beat Klitschko.

He protested but it was a very brief + subpar protest & seemed like one of those protests for appearances sake than a real legit wtf kinda protest.

But yea agree with the rest of what you're saying. I always lean towards guys who don't have boxing in their blood not being able to keep things moving at the tip top level of the game when the money starts getting crazy.

And yea to me there is two Joshua's. The one pre-Klitschko & the post-Klitschko Joshua.

[boliodogs]

This seems like a horrible idea to me.

I can't recall a time when a guy took a sustained beating like Joshua did + get knocked down so many times + eventually stopped & had a good result in a immediate rematch at this level of the game.

And even if its happened I know the odds are horrible at someone reversing this type of L.

I think he should take the rematch as planned. If he can't beat him 5 or 6 months from now then he can't beat him in a year or two. If he doesn't rematch him then Ruiz will be free to fight someone else. If Ruiz loses then AJ may not get a title shot at the new champ. I do expect AJ to lose. Ruiz exposed his weaknesses and he is not as good as I thought he was.

[JJRod]

Nah man, he can’t risk loosing twice in a row, his career would be over.needs a tune up. Ruiz can fight Arreola in a all Mexican-America card that would sell well.

The build the rematch.

[The Big Dunn]

No. I think he needs to take a lil time off, get with a new trainer that can show him how to jab and a new conditioning expert to get his stamina up. Fight the whyte rematch to get back on your feet and work your new stuff then go after Ruiz, Wilder, Fury and Usyk.

[4truth]

Making too much of his taking a beating. He took a debilitating head shot in the 3rd round and he never recovered his senses. Everything that happened after that headshot was not indicative of what would happen if they fought again.
Joshua needs the rematch right away. If somebody else comes along and takes the titles from Ruiz first, a real possibility, then Joshua is in an even worse place than he is now.

[SplitSecond]

He got hurt badly multiple times in this fight. He went down 4 damn times. He looked completely space cadet'd out at the stoppage.

This wasn't a run of the mill L. This was an ass whipping. Granted Joshua had moments even after the 3rd round, but he never seemed to fully get his senses back & it was the Ruiz show almost the whole way.

Ruiz had about four 3 second onslaughts and joshua collapsed after all of them, outside of that, he didnt take much damage in this 7th rd fight.