Final prediction: Ruiz by decision

[Ray*]

Ruiz isn’t getting a decision. He knows it and we all know it. All Joshua needs to do is stand up and he would get his belts back in SA. The event is stacked against Ruiz, he needs to stop AJ again.

[LacedUp]

... Ruiz can't get a "decision" win on the scorecards ...

... for instance: last time, Pasquale Procopio (the Canadian judge) had AJ ahead with one round...

Remember that when the fight was stopped AJ had taken one 10-8 round and you could argue he won a few of the others, certainly the first two.

Of course Ruiz can win a decision and will if he deserves it.

[Szef]

I see this fight play out like Wladimir - Samuel Peter 1 the more I think about it.

[LacedUp]

I see this fight play out like Wladimir - Samuel Peter 1 the more I think about it.

Maybe on paper in terms of taking a few KDs. I was thinking about that too.

What people don't so much remember about this fight is that Wlad smashed Peter for the majority of the fight.

[MDPopescu]

Remember that when the fight was stopped AJ had taken one 10-8 round and you could argue he won a few of the others, certainly the first two.

Of course Ruiz can win a decision and will if he deserves it.

You mean that "10-8" round was a "8-10", right?... because Ruiz got that 3rd round by 10-8 on all the scorecards...

[LacedUp]

You mean that "10-8" round was a "8-10", right?... because Ruiz got that 3rd round by 10-8 on all the scorecards...

Yes I'm saying he lost a 10-8 round. But a lot of the other rounds were close. Round 7 was the round where Andy stepped up after taking a bit of a break after round 3. But the judges obviously didn't finish round 7, through 1-6 it's not out of this world to believe AJ won 3-4 rounds especially considering he probably won 1 and 2.

[Toffee]

Yes I'm saying he lost a 10-8 round. But a lot of the other rounds were close. Round 7 was the round where Andy stepped up after taking a bit of a break after round 3. But the judges obviously didn't finish round 7, through 1-6 it's not out of this world to believe AJ won 3-4 rounds especially considering he probably won 1 and 2.

I had him winning 1,2 and 5 and even watching it again I don't think that was too generous. Note that having him winning rounds is a long way away from saying he was in control - he looked uncomfortable with Ruiz from the start. But length will still win rounds.

1 and 2 were nothing rounds anyway, but it's round 5 that makes me think Ruiz can't win a decision. Joshua was still on stiff legs and even then could rack up enough jabs and the occasional flashy shot to keep Ruiz honest and take the round.

For Ruiz to win rounds he'll need to be all over Joshua. And if he can do that then it won't go 12 rounds.

My pick is still Joshua to break him down. Basically the same tactic as last time - cautious until you catch him - but without throwing everything at him when he does land. 7-9 rounds of that would be plenty to end the fight.

But it's close to 50/50. I can absolutely see Ruiz finishing Joshua in a similar way to last time.

[JL1885]

Don't think Ruiz could win a decisive decision against Joshua and both will be very cautious in the opening rounds, both knowing first hand the other man can hit. I think it goes late in a gruelling contest, Ruiz behind on the cards needing a KO and gets stopped in the process. One thing is for sure, Ruiz will not stop coming until Joshua nails him down!

[Marchegiano]

He can't pick up Wlad's amatuer techniques?

[Zaroku]

Ruiz will round by round wear him down, maybe less drama this time, maybe less kd's but same result. Ruiz TKO.