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

[MDPopescu]

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

... Ali started at 12 yo, Joe Louis at 17 yo, Sugar Ray Robinson at 14-15, George Foreman at 16 yo, Evander Holyfield at 7 yo, Mike Tyson at 13 yo, Lennox Lewis started at 13 yo, etc…

[MDPopescu]

... as about Floyd: "Floyd Sr. introduced Mayweather to the gym not long after he started walking, holding his young boy in front of speed bags whenever they visited. Soon, Mayweather was throwing punches at anything that came in his view. At the age of 7 he was fitted for his first pair of boxing gloves."

[Curtis Harper]

13-Year-Old Andy Reid Was Freakin’ Enormous
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/blog...106892348.html

[MDPopescu]

13-Year-Old Andy Reid Was Freakin’ Enormous
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/blog...106892348.html

... nice find...

[Curtis Harper]

... nice find...

.

[MDPopescu]

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

... ( and not even one of Andy's fans here...)

JOSHUA - RUIZ 1 �� We look back at the first fight from some alternate angles

What are your predictions for the rematch? ��

Buy #RuizJoshua 2 here: https://t.co/SYaXWxGiSx pic.twitter.com/kFNNiDq1JW

— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) December 5, 2019

[Articulateboxin]

... ( and not even one of Andy's fans here...)

JOSHUA - RUIZ 1 �� We look back at the first fight from some alternate angles

What are your predictions for the rematch? ��

Buy #RuizJoshua 2 here: https://t.co/SYaXWxGiSx pic.twitter.com/kFNNiDq1JW

— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) December 5, 2019

Well I did say that anything after round 3 was a wash because AJ looked concussed. The first 2 rounds of the first fight, set the tone of the second fight. Aj was always a better boxer at range , that was clear from their amateur fights alone. Ruiz won because aj lost his cool and exchanged hooks with a guy with mush faster hands, while having a weaker chin

[MDPopescu]

Well I did say that anything after round 3 was a wash because AJ looked concussed. The first 2 rounds of the first fight, set the tone of the second fight. Aj was always a better boxer at range , that was clear from their amateur fights alone. Ruiz won because aj lost his cool and exchanged hooks with a guy with mush faster hands, while having a weaker chin

.. AJ came in far better shape (with good legs, good stamina, and good jab), he moved a lot and managed to stay at the distance (they had a 22 feet ring)...
... Anyway, his defense did not improve: when Ruiz assaulted him with those looping bombs, AJ (when he couldn't clinch) only ducked with his head low... AJ doesn't hold upper body and head movement -- he's rather stiff from the waist up (compare him to Ortiz, for instance)...

[Articulateboxin]

.. AJ came in far better shape (with good legs, good stamina, and good jab), he moved a lot and managed to stay at the distance (they had a 22 feet ring)...
... Anyway, his defense did not improve: when Ruiz assaulted him with those looping bombs, AJ (when he couldn't clinch) only ducked with his head low... AJ doesn't hold upper body and head movement -- he's rather stiff from the waist up (compare him to Ortiz, for instance)...

They had a 22ft ring in the first fight too. I was simply making a counter to you suggesting Ruiz is a better boxer. I outlined their histories as to why that simply isn't the case, or at the very least they've learned an equal amount. I would also agree AJ needs to improve his head movement, it's almost non existent..but did you see Ruiz eating how many jabs?

We read so many comments of "you can't learn to box in 6 months" Even Ruiz himself said AJ can't box. Clearly he can and that's the point I was making.

[MDPopescu]

.. AJ came in far better shape (with good legs, good stamina, and good jab), he moved a lot and managed to stay at the distance (they had a 22 feet ring)...
... Anyway, his defense did not improve: when Ruiz assaulted him with those looping bombs, AJ (when he couldn't clinch) only ducked with his head low... AJ doesn't hold upper body and head movement -- he's rather stiff from the waist up (compare him to Ortiz, for instance)...

They had a 22ft ring in the first fight too. I was simply making a counter to you suggesting Ruiz is a better boxer. I outlined their histories as to why that simply isn't the case, or at the very least they've learned an equal amount. I would also agree AJ needs to improve his head movement, it's almost non existent..but did you see Ruiz eating how many jabs?

We read so many comments of "you can't learn to box in 6 months" Even Ruiz himself said AJ can't box. Clearly he can and that's the point I was making.

My thread here wasn't meant to be in "Ruiz's support", tbh...

... and AJ really didn't change in 6 months -- as I said above, he improved his stamina and moved a lot (making use of his strong legs)... He couldn't change shit in the department of upper body and head movement -- which are defense fundamentals... (Ortiz and Fury are far better than him)...