The Sweet Science as they say

[Robbie Barrett]

Is clinching a staple part of "the sweet science"? Because we seen AJ doing a hell of a lot of clinching last night, and it was very effective in stopping Ruiz's inside work. Do unsporting/rulebreaking tactics = the sweet science if they result in not getting hit? How about turning your head or ducking down, then complaining about getting hit on the back of the head? Even if it's your fault for offering that part of your head up on a platter when your opponent is throwing? Is this dirty/cowardly tactics or just "the sweet science"?

Funny thing is the only time Ruiz had any success was fouling with kidney and rabbit punches in the clinch. They actually helped him.

[Robbie Barrett]

I asked if you did not know boxing and you replied “No.”

Well that answers that question.
YDKSAB.

I said no to your claim of that's how you win. Have you read the rules yet?

[W1LL]

Funny thing is the only time Ruiz had any success was fouling with kidney and rabbit punches in the clinch. They actually helped him.

Yea but the clinching was definately part of AJ's silky-smooth boxing performance. Without all that grabbing hold for dear life, Ruiz would have had success in range like that. So what did land while AJ was hugging him was a lot less damaging than what would have landed if AJ had of, say, tried to box on the inside like someone like... Tyson Fury can do.

[teejay1973]

Whether you liked the fight or not - AJ fought the "right" way for this fight. Ruiz's style was AJ's worse nightmare and coupled with the fact that Ruiz could take AJ's best made it, even more, a formidable task. Everything AJ did was executed to perfection. The gameplan was to nullify everything Ruiz had and AJ did that - in fact, even when the range was up close at times, AJ took Ruiz's best from the fight and didn't wilt.

I make no secret of the fact that i'm a big AJ fan, always have been. I don't, however, see him as the best HW out there, but after he showed us what a slimmer AJ can do faced with all that pressure and adversity, then you can only give him all the props. Did he have fear through the fight? Sure he did - though as the fight went on, he was actually enjoying it more. His trademark tongue out was back and I actually saw for the first time in a long time, a hungry AJ.

For Ruiz - I'm not sure where he goes from here - rumours he didn't have a great camp were proven right and he came in massively overweight and as many had thought, to his detriment. Ruiz only has one style and that is to fight up close. A true champion has many facets to his game and Ruiz proved, after all that he does not have a way of mixing it up for different fighters.

When you look at it this way - Every wilder fight, every Fury fight has always been executed the same way - Big bomb from the right for wilder to finish and Fury's boxing skills to win. Neither of them has actually shown an ability to change styles to accommodate different fighters. AJ, on the other hand, has shown at least twice his adaptability to change it up in the face of different styles - once with Parker and once with Ruiz. After seeing last nights fight I actually believe that AJ can adapt to Wilder and win, though that is still a 50/50 in my eyes. Does he have enough to beat Fury? I don't think so, unless Fury wants to stand toe to toe with AJ - even then Fury could take AJ's best before AJ gasses.

[alexguiness]

Joshua boxed very well, but he looked good because Ruiz just didn't commit to anything.

[Robbie Barrett]

Yea but the clinching was definately part of AJ's silky-smooth boxing performance. Without all that grabbing hold for dear life, Ruiz would have had success in range like that. So what did land while AJ was hugging him was a lot less damaging than what would have landed if AJ had of, say, tried to box on the inside like someone like... Tyson Fury can do.

Fury clinches all the time. But now you have a problem with it? Fury stank out the joint against Klitschko a much worse fight and performance throwing far less than Joshua. But that was a masterclass. Just stop it. Joshua is a threat and likely beats Fury and you don't like it. Don't bother coming back with nonsense, there's a reason Fury chose Wilder for 7 mil over fighting Joshua for much more.

[YoungManRumble]

Yea but the clinching was definately part of AJ's silky-smooth boxing performance. Without all that grabbing hold for dear life, Ruiz would have had success in range like that. So what did land while AJ was hugging him was a lot less damaging than what would have landed if AJ had of, say, tried to box on the inside like someone like... Tyson Fury can do.

Considering Fury's style and physical dimensions it's pretty wild that he's actually a fairly competent inside fighter

Apart from when he's uppercutting himself

[W1LL]

Fury clinches all the time. But now you have a problem with it? Fury stank out the joint against Klitschko a much worse fight and performance throwing far less than Joshua. But that was a masterclass. Just stop it. Joshua is a threat and likely beats Fury and you don't like it. Don't bother coming back with nonsense, there's a reason Fury chose Wilder for 7 mil over fighting Joshua for much more.

It is clear you don't know what you're talking about when it comes to inside fighting Robbie, so nothing more to say really is there? Tis crazy that you can laud AJ's inside clinching and in the next breath try to knock Fury's inside work, which is clearly superior to AJ's. You aren't knocking your homeboy AJ by saying that, there are things AJ does better than Fury too. But you don't have to constantly insist that AJ is better than Fury, even in instances where he clearly isn't.

[Robbie Barrett]

It is clear you don't know what you're talking about when it comes to inside fighting Robbie, so nothing more to say really is there? Tis crazy that you can laud AJ's inside clinching and in the next breath try to knock Fury's inside work, which is clearly superior to AJ's. You aren't knocking your homeboy AJ by saying that, there are things AJ does better than Fury too. But you don't have to constantly insist that AJ is better than Fury, even in instances where he clearly isn't.

Where did i laud Joshua's clinching? You're a hypocrite. Fury has done everything you're ridiculing Joshua for. At least Joshua can change it up, Fury will always be a pillow puncher.

[FredRekk]

I said no to your claim of that's how you win. Have you read the rules yet?

Have you learned boxing yet?

It’s okay if you don’t know boxing and only comment to defend Mayweathers style. That’s okay, you’re a fanboy I get it. You’re like most of the posters here. Buts it’s okay, you can learn.

Learn some boxing and watch some videos on Ali and Frazier or even RJJ and you should learn a little bit. Take it from there precious child.