Comments Thread For: McCracken: Joshua Has To Be On It Or Ruiz Will Be All Over Him

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

A calmer Anthony Joshua will be stepping into the ring on Saturday night, according to his head trainer, Rob McCracken, one who will be better prepared to avoid the mistakes that led to his downfall in the first fight with Andy Ruiz. McCracken believes that Joshua caused his own problems when losing the first fight in New York, leaving himself wide open when rushing in to finish off Ruiz after knocking him down in the third round.
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[Zelda]

In my opinion, AJ tried to make an easy fight out of Ruiz the first time around.

He went in there to finish in style similar to Wilder (vs Breazeale) and "make a statement in America". Before you know it, Ruiz is fighting back and Joshua's mind is not mentally accepting what is going on. From there on, you have a confused Joshua in desperate mode making mistakes and getting hit.

It is not that he did not recover physically from the first KD but he didn't recover mentally to take control of the fight. The fact that he lasted several rounds tell you that Joshua is physically more powerful and has several advantages over Ruiz. As many great fighters have said, it won't be a physical fight (because Joshua wins that hands down) but a mental fight.

I think AJ wins and wins early to mid rounds.

[mjh1969]

We will see how this goes. Like Tyson said, "everyone has a plan until they get hit." With all of the spotlight on this fight and what Ruiz did right and Joshua did wrong all of the pressure is on Joshua this time. All Joshua has to do is move for 12 rounds, jab with the right hand, fight tall and tie up Ruiz when he gets close. Hopefully, he will watch the Douglas v Tyson fight and the Lewis v Tua fight. Those two fights will give him a great blueprint for what he needs to do to beat Ruiz. If Joshua does get caught again, hopefully he knows how to tie up Ruiz this time. He shouldn't go backwards and get caught with more shots.

I got Joshua in 8 rounds.

[angkag]

In my opinion, AJ tried to make an easy fight out of Ruiz the first time around.

He went in there to finish in style similar to Wilder (vs Breazeale) and "make a statement in America". Before you know it, Ruiz is fighting back and Joshua's mind is not mentally accepting what is going on. From there on, you have a confused Joshua in desperate mode making mistakes and getting hit.

It is not that he did not recover physically from the first KD but he didn't recover mentally to take control of the fight. The fact that he lasted several rounds tell you that Joshua is physically more powerful and has several advantages over Ruiz. As many great fighters have said, it won't be a physical fight (because Joshua wins that hands down) but a mental fight.

I think AJ wins and wins early to mid rounds.

Kind of agree. Joshua can lose defensive discipline, a bit like Khan, and when he does he takes too many hits. Like Wlad, he doesn't have a chin that can survive taking clean shots, so he needs to tighten up like Wlad did and not get into trading when he feels he can get a finish. He actually did that with Parker, but it led to a bit of a dull fight, and the pressure to make 'big drama show' in the US might have contributed to him opening up and walking into the shots that he couldn't recover from.

Khan just couldn't help himself from standing and trading when the heat was on, but I think Joshua might be able to be more disciplined and grind it out his time - if so, we might see a fight more like the Parker one where he sits behind the jab and grinds out a decision. If he catches Ruiz, he will be far more wary this time, and not jump in.

The alternative possibility is to be like David Price in the Thompson rematch where he has lost enough confidence in his ability to take a punch that he doesn't throw anything but jabs, which would allow Ruiz time to figure out how to get inside and panick him.

We'll find out what sort of mentality Joshua has - Wlad or Price - one could lead to resurgent Joshua, the other to early retirement.

[Nomadic]

In my opinion, AJ tried to make an easy fight out of Ruiz the first time around.

He went in there to finish in style similar to Wilder (vs Breazeale) and "make a statement in America". Before you know it, Ruiz is fighting back and Joshua's mind is not mentally accepting what is going on. From there on, you have a confused Joshua in desperate mode making mistakes and getting hit.

It is not that he did not recover physically from the first KD but he didn't recover mentally to take control of the fight. The fact that he lasted several rounds tell you that Joshua is physically more powerful and has several advantages over Ruiz. As many great fighters have said, it won't be a physical fight (because Joshua wins that hands down) but a mental fight.

I think AJ wins and wins early to mid rounds.

He smelled blood and went in for the kill. Big mistake. Ruiz shouldn't return the favor, AJ is going stick and move (run) this fight. Ruiz will be a fool if he charges him like a crazed goat.

[NaijaD]

Does Ruiz need to give AJ a concussion again to be able to have that same success?

What if he’s only able to hurt him “regularly” like buzz him the way Whyte did?

Cause he completely took Joshua’s legs away after the 3rd. If he can’t repeat that level of damage then I don’t see him winning.

[petegrif]

Agree with you guys.
He knocked Ruiz down and thought he had a quick finish in reach to match Wilder's. Rushed in and got well clipped.

[tokon]

I really hope the referee doesn't allow a jab-n-grab fight, allows them to fight on the inside as well as the outside, and penalises Joshua if he holds everytime Ruiz gets into range.

[Ccarroll2133]

Way too many people assume AJ can just box like He did versus Parker. Sounds like a plan if he was fighting Parker. You think Ruiz will be fine with that, did you watch the fairly even first 2 rounds where Ruiz marched him down before the alleged lucky concussion shot?

Did you consider AJs legs were gone because Ruiz started hammering his body, hard in the 6th round? Why at the start of the 7th was AJ able to hit Ruiz with another monster hook that stunned him a split second? Didn't look out of it then? Ruiz caught him at the same time and he was stunned and Ruiz finished him.

AJ got an amazing combo off in the 3rd. Ruiz got up and got blasted with a straight. Most fighters would be done by then. Why wouldn't he go for the knockout? Worked the 20 times before. Drives me nuts people saying he rushed it.... Did you ever say that before on any of AJs knockouts... Oh I hurt him I'll step back and jab it out for 12.

Remember it's Joshua Vs Ruiz not Joshua Vs Parker and Ruiz Vs Parker. Both fighters have changed and Andy won't let him dance around. Can't wait for Saturday!

[deathofaclown]

Does Ruiz need to give AJ a concussion again to be able to have that same success?

What if he’s only able to hurt him “regularly” like buzz him the way Whyte did?

Cause he completely took Joshua’s legs away after the 3rd. If he can’t repeat that level of damage then I don’t see him winning.

AJ’s legs went for a rounds or two against Whyte too, but Whyte wasn’t composed enough to finish the job, partly because he had a bad shoulder injury and needed surgery but wasn’t really in a position to turn down that kinda fight. I’m not a Whyte fan at all so it’s not like I’d just make excuses for him but from what I know, he was basically a one armed fighter in that fight.