ANDY RUIZ JR started boxing at the age of seven...

[M Bison]

Yep, AJ was playing Fight Night on his Playstation when Ruiz was sparring grown men.

Levels.

But none of them were good enough to conquer the most physically demanding sport in the world, in the toughest organisation bar none!


Levels indeed.

[MDPopescu]

Doesn't really go for much when you've been training for such a long time, quality over quantity. Besides didn't Sergio Martinez start very very late on in his life, he was beating some pretty tough guys who likely started boxing from a very young age.

But none of them were good enough to conquer the most physically demanding sport in the world, in the toughest organisation bar none!


Levels indeed.

... it's true that Sergio started boxing at 20 of age... while Tyson Furty started at 10 yo...

[hugh grant]

Youd think starting young youd be better and the first fight kind of showed ruiz had more experience. But then josh kind of has natural talent and progressed fast and has had more success than people whod been in sport much longer.
But then I heard joseph parker claim hed been boxing since young kid and he lost to josh also. So I guess you can say ruiz might have been dabbling in boxing since 5 years old but he wasnt training smart neccesarily. Or taking it really seriously at that age neccesareily

[MDPopescu]

Youd think starting young youd be better and the first fight kind of showed ruiz had more experience. But then josh kind of has natural talent and progressed fast and has had more success than people whod been in sport much longer.
But then I heard joseph parker claim hed been boxing since young kid and he lost to josh also. So I guess you can say ruiz might have been dabbling in boxing since 5 years old he was training smart neccesarily.

... Wilder also is a "natural talent" -- and he started at 19 yo...

[Toffee]

Ruiz is a more natural fighter. I'm not sure I'm ticking the experience box though.

He might have more experience of fighting 12 year olds, but Joshua has far more title fight experience.

[Articulateboxin]

I don't really understand the narrative here, sentiment doesn't make something true! However let's explore it and discuss, I have no fear of being proven wrong

Look at what Ruiz achieved as an amateur. AJ accomplished more in 18 fights, than Ruiz did his entire amateur career. Even if you exlclude the Olympic gold, AJ also took silver at the world championships. I think that's remarkable for a guy who was so raw.

Now look at their pro careers. AJ Unified the division at just 21 fights in, beating (with relative ease) the boxer who bested Ruiz in what I think is a close fight.

Now also look at the fight to the point AJ was knocked down for the first time. (I think the rest is a wash since AJ was most likely concussed) AJ is setting traps with his jab, he's drawing Ruiz in and lands the most eye catching punches of the fight. He's quite clearly outboxing Ruiz and ends up catching him with a beautiful hook. Now that doesn't mean AJ was winning rounds, his volume was too low for anybody to be winning decisively. However I actually think Ruiz resigned himself to having to punch with AJ, very early on - perhaps even half way through round two to remain relevant. His knockdown came by abandoning boxing all together and just throwing hands.

Now don't get me wrong, I really enjoy watching Ruiz, he boxes well and his incredibly fast hands. However I think considering how much longer he has been boxing, he's learned an equal amount to what AJ has? He can only fight 1 way - front foot counter punch. There is no further nuances to his game, no subtleties. He beat AJ because he was able to hurt him more than anyone he's ever faced.

Am I wrong? I'm curious

[YGriffith]

Larry holmes started at 19 and only had 22 amature fights.

[HeadBodyBodyBody]

Doesn't really go for much when you've been training for such a long time, quality over quantity. Besides didn't Sergio Martinez start very very late on in his life, he was beating some pretty tough guys who likely started boxing from a very young age.

Martinez had a pretty unorthodox style though, I think if he was a "basic" plodding fighter like AJ he would've had much less success. Martinez was great at ambushing his opponents

As for Larry Holmes, I don't know what to say, maybe he was a quick learner!?

[Marchegiano]

Hmm Charles is actually about the same age as Marciano but since he had a full career's experience prior, Charles is considered one of the past it wins of Rocco's.

[Split Decision]

so from now on i should be picking who has been boxing longer when predicting a fight ? is that how it works ?