Now that AJ redeemed himself how will his loss still affect legacy?

[DaNeutral.]

It would maybe be tarnished if the other big boys fought and beat ruiz easy but they havnt. It's nice telling us how easy wilder would have it against ruiz but he hasn't fought him.

Ali had more than 1 defeat and he is still the highest regarded fighter of all time.

I'd understand the big loss and the gentle win in the rematch if he hadn't already beaten better fighters than ruiz.

I just think a certain section of pbc fans are still so massively frustrated that Joshua won his belts back.

[QueensburyRules]

A loss is loss especially a ko loss but he did take that L back.
Lewis did the same and is praised for doing so so how does this affect him in long run.

- -If you gotta ask, you don't deserve to know.

[Motofan]

Unless Ruiz goes on to beat some good fighters it will always come up. That said, most of the legacy depends on the outcomes of Joshua vs Wilder and Joshua vs Fury. As mentioned Lennox lost a couple fluke fights but I still contend that when he was on his game he was as tough of a head to head match up as anyone in heavyweight history. Wlad lost and improved and dominated for years. How we remember any of the top three heavyweights is still up in the air.

[ReggieKray]

It will only help to make more fights and keep others from ducking him. AJ winning the rematch showed that he is able to stick to a game plan in order to secure a W. If he can do this with Wilder he might have a chance, but if he does get caught with a right he'll be pushing daisies. Realisticly, I think if Ruiz can touch AJ then Wilder can also.

Legacy wise I think he's doing great, but I do feel like he is starting to slip. That being said, I think he'll have to pull of some miracles to be able to mount a Wilder, Fury, or Usyk on his wall. If he can pull any of these off, them that should be enough to silent any haters and he could honestly retire from there. Especially if he holds that fight in SA again.

[wladavit]

I don't know if he redeemed himself, he just beat a guy that he was supposed to beat the first time when he got ktfo.

[TheUptownKid]

Joshua still is champion and while he’s active people will remember that he can be made passive. As far as his legacy, i don’t think it took a major hit. Twenty years down the line he’ll be remembered as a long reigning champ, but hardcore fans know he has a little yellow streak.

[The Big Dunn]

I think we need to see what he does with his career.

If he becomes a predominantly European fighter and fights in a style that fans don’t find entertaining, I think you will see a very polarized opinion of his career, like we do with wlad.

If he goes on to soundly defeat the top guys, like Ali did after he lost to Frazier, I think his career will be judged in the same light.

Frankly, like him or not, if he beats wilder, fury, usyk, and Ortiz in the next 2 years, the loss will IMO be mitigated.

[uppercut510]

it will always be remembered but it all depends on how his career pans out, getting the titles back was a step in the right direction, if he continues to fight like he did in that fight I'm sure he will be criticized tho.

[STREET CLEANER]

Joshua didn't steal a title he avenged a loss.

Wilder is a known fighter that stole a single belt last December,. 2x champion vs a guy whos holding another fighters belt,do the math on which one will be effected more if Wilder doesn't get a Win over Fury.

the record books will show Joshua as only the 4 or 5th HW boxer to ever win an immediate rematch .

Wilder will be known for ducking undisputed .

Great going. First post and already talking about Wilder in a non-Wilder topic.

[STREET CLEANER]

Lenox and Wlad were able to overcome their KO loses. It all depends what he does from here.

I think he is still a very capable fighter.