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This is a french article published this morning in the Journal de Montreal. I used Google Translate to share it with you guys.
Mike Griffin tells Joshua-Ruiz
*
By Réjean Tremblay, Journal de Montréal
Tuesday, 4 June 2019 05:00
The man had not reached 33rd Street yet that he knew that the evening would be special to say the least.
As in all the big fights fought at Madison Square Garden, a teeming fauna was brewing good deals. Ticket prices for the fight between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz reached dizzying heights.
"The MSG is always electric the night of big fights, but last Saturday, it was even more explosive," says Quebec's Mike Griffin, the third man in the ring for this mega fight of several hundred million dollars .
"When I entered the building, I noticed the presence of many British from England to encourage the champion," he said. And since Ruiz is Mexican, we spoke in all kinds of languages with multiple accents in the big building.
"There was a festive atmosphere, especially as the battles on the map were good fights and the fans were on board," he says.
All for Joshua
The whole evening was centered around Joshua. "The big screen MSG showed reports on Joshua, there was only for him," said Griffin.
Then, half an hour before the fight, Griffin went to both locker rooms to give his instructions for the fight.
"In the locker room in Ruiz, we were concentrated. He listened to me, seriously, and he returned to his bubble. In the locker room of Joshua, I immediately felt that the champion was swept away by the atmosphere of the fair that prevailed. He was caught in this party, he did not seem to me aware of the importance of the duel. I thought he'd get back by walking to the ring.
"Then we sang the three national anthems: British, Mexican and American. I watched both boxers and it was obvious that Joshua was not in the fight. He watched the crowd, he smelled the atmosphere. New York sometimes does this effect to boxers, big nights.
"I was fine. Nervous just what it takes, with the adrenaline flowing in my body. From the beginning, Joshua gave a solid jab, but Ruiz replied with three strong shots. They did not reach Joshua solidly, but I saw the signal that seems to have escaped Joshua. This Ruiz had come to fight and he was going for the homer at every opportunity. I was surprised by this intensity. I thought it was going to wake up Joshua. "
Joshua in trouble
In the third round, Joshua sent Ruiz on the back with a good left.
"I counted to eight, but I knew Ruiz was going to get up. He was especially surprised by the strength of the left. He had never gone to the carpet. Everyone expected Joshua to finish it, but Ruiz stormed the storm and came back with powerful blows. Joshua went to the floor and he got up, and showed me his fists. He could continue. But I noticed right away that he had no more legs. When he fell with a few seconds to go, I knew that if he got up, I was not going to end the fight. With the sound of the bell, he did not need the protection of the referee. He rose from pain and misery and the bell rang. I asked the doctor to check his condition, "says Griffin.
Rounds four, five and six have confirmed the Quebec referee's thinking. Joshua had no more legs.
"As soon as he was hit, he was disoriented. At the end of the sixth round, Ruiz reached him to the body. It cut Joshua's legs completely. The fight was over, I felt it. "
In the seventh, Joshua went two more times to the floor. After the second fall, Griffin picked up the mouthguard voluntarily escaped by Joshua.
"At eight, he got up, but he turned his back on me. Technically, I could have ended the fight at that moment. He went to the corner to be able to stand up. He was not there anymore. I asked him to lift his gloves. He did not do it. Then I told him to come forward and be ready to box. He did not react. I ended the fight, "said the actor and the witness of the whole story.
Decision welcomed
All commentators praised the wisdom and the merits of the Quebecois decision. Both on DAZN and in specialized sites. Griffin has once again confirmed its status as a world top 5 on the international boxing scene.
Mike Griffin tells Joshua-Ruiz
*
By Réjean Tremblay, Journal de Montréal
Tuesday, 4 June 2019 05:00
The man had not reached 33rd Street yet that he knew that the evening would be special to say the least.
As in all the big fights fought at Madison Square Garden, a teeming fauna was brewing good deals. Ticket prices for the fight between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz reached dizzying heights.
"The MSG is always electric the night of big fights, but last Saturday, it was even more explosive," says Quebec's Mike Griffin, the third man in the ring for this mega fight of several hundred million dollars .
"When I entered the building, I noticed the presence of many British from England to encourage the champion," he said. And since Ruiz is Mexican, we spoke in all kinds of languages with multiple accents in the big building.
"There was a festive atmosphere, especially as the battles on the map were good fights and the fans were on board," he says.
All for Joshua
The whole evening was centered around Joshua. "The big screen MSG showed reports on Joshua, there was only for him," said Griffin.
Then, half an hour before the fight, Griffin went to both locker rooms to give his instructions for the fight.
"In the locker room in Ruiz, we were concentrated. He listened to me, seriously, and he returned to his bubble. In the locker room of Joshua, I immediately felt that the champion was swept away by the atmosphere of the fair that prevailed. He was caught in this party, he did not seem to me aware of the importance of the duel. I thought he'd get back by walking to the ring.
"Then we sang the three national anthems: British, Mexican and American. I watched both boxers and it was obvious that Joshua was not in the fight. He watched the crowd, he smelled the atmosphere. New York sometimes does this effect to boxers, big nights.
"I was fine. Nervous just what it takes, with the adrenaline flowing in my body. From the beginning, Joshua gave a solid jab, but Ruiz replied with three strong shots. They did not reach Joshua solidly, but I saw the signal that seems to have escaped Joshua. This Ruiz had come to fight and he was going for the homer at every opportunity. I was surprised by this intensity. I thought it was going to wake up Joshua. "
Joshua in trouble
In the third round, Joshua sent Ruiz on the back with a good left.
"I counted to eight, but I knew Ruiz was going to get up. He was especially surprised by the strength of the left. He had never gone to the carpet. Everyone expected Joshua to finish it, but Ruiz stormed the storm and came back with powerful blows. Joshua went to the floor and he got up, and showed me his fists. He could continue. But I noticed right away that he had no more legs. When he fell with a few seconds to go, I knew that if he got up, I was not going to end the fight. With the sound of the bell, he did not need the protection of the referee. He rose from pain and misery and the bell rang. I asked the doctor to check his condition, "says Griffin.
Rounds four, five and six have confirmed the Quebec referee's thinking. Joshua had no more legs.
"As soon as he was hit, he was disoriented. At the end of the sixth round, Ruiz reached him to the body. It cut Joshua's legs completely. The fight was over, I felt it. "
In the seventh, Joshua went two more times to the floor. After the second fall, Griffin picked up the mouthguard voluntarily escaped by Joshua.
"At eight, he got up, but he turned his back on me. Technically, I could have ended the fight at that moment. He went to the corner to be able to stand up. He was not there anymore. I asked him to lift his gloves. He did not do it. Then I told him to come forward and be ready to box. He did not react. I ended the fight, "said the actor and the witness of the whole story.
Decision welcomed
All commentators praised the wisdom and the merits of the Quebecois decision. Both on DAZN and in specialized sites. Griffin has once again confirmed its status as a world top 5 on the international boxing scene.
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