Joshua vs Ruiz Jr - The Inquest. What Went Wrong?
According to the judges Joshua was up 2-0 at the start of the 3rd and after scoring the first knockdown of the fight looked to be on his way to a comfortable victory. But then what happened?
We saw what happened in the fight but in terms of Joshua's game plan, he got caught, dropped, got up to his feet but then why wasn't he able to make the adjustments needed to take care of business? He wasn't under any serious pressure from Ruiz Jr in the 4th, 5th or 6th. It took him 2 full rounds to recover after being dropped by Klitschko and the punch Klitschko landed on him was far more devastating than any single punch Ruiz Jr landed on him last night yet in London he climbed up as he did in NY but managed to recoup and then find that second wind and get Klitschko out of there. He was dropped twice in the 3rd vs Ruiz Jr but then he had 3 rounds to recover.
I also noted that between rounds (DAZN coverage) AJ was desperately trying to get his trainer to tell him what to expect and what to do, he seemed panicked and unfortunately for my money McCracken didn't really offer anything up to the champ. He should have been at the post-fight press conference with AJ, anyone know why he didn't show up? He shows up when they win and takes questions, last night the most important questions of his career so far needed to be answered and he was a no show and I can't find any interviews even now, has anyone heard from him?
After getting up twice in the 7th the referee asked him if he wanted to continue, AJ says yes but then makes no effort to leave his corner, arms draped over the top ropes and looking to the side in came the stoppage - so I have to ask, did Joshua quit?
WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder says he did and it's hard to argue otherwise because if he didn't quit, what was he doing? Why didn't he come out gloves up ready to go?
Hearn seemed more keen on the immediate rematch than AJ did in the post-fight press conference. AJ said he'd take the rematch too but seemed more interested in Wilder or Fury, as he did before the Ruiz Jr fight. If he fights Wilder or Fury as a challenger and they're still undefeated, 50/50 isn't in the conversation surely?
Finally, let's have a look at your top 5 heavyweights as of right now in order if you don't mind.
I got 1. Fury 2. Wilder 3. Ruiz Jr 4. Joshua 5. Whyte
We saw what happened in the fight but in terms of Joshua's game plan, he got caught, dropped, got up to his feet but then why wasn't he able to make the adjustments needed to take care of business? He wasn't under any serious pressure from Ruiz Jr in the 4th, 5th or 6th. It took him 2 full rounds to recover after being dropped by Klitschko and the punch Klitschko landed on him was far more devastating than any single punch Ruiz Jr landed on him last night yet in London he climbed up as he did in NY but managed to recoup and then find that second wind and get Klitschko out of there. He was dropped twice in the 3rd vs Ruiz Jr but then he had 3 rounds to recover.
I also noted that between rounds (DAZN coverage) AJ was desperately trying to get his trainer to tell him what to expect and what to do, he seemed panicked and unfortunately for my money McCracken didn't really offer anything up to the champ. He should have been at the post-fight press conference with AJ, anyone know why he didn't show up? He shows up when they win and takes questions, last night the most important questions of his career so far needed to be answered and he was a no show and I can't find any interviews even now, has anyone heard from him?
After getting up twice in the 7th the referee asked him if he wanted to continue, AJ says yes but then makes no effort to leave his corner, arms draped over the top ropes and looking to the side in came the stoppage - so I have to ask, did Joshua quit?
WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder says he did and it's hard to argue otherwise because if he didn't quit, what was he doing? Why didn't he come out gloves up ready to go?
Hearn seemed more keen on the immediate rematch than AJ did in the post-fight press conference. AJ said he'd take the rematch too but seemed more interested in Wilder or Fury, as he did before the Ruiz Jr fight. If he fights Wilder or Fury as a challenger and they're still undefeated, 50/50 isn't in the conversation surely?
Finally, let's have a look at your top 5 heavyweights as of right now in order if you don't mind.
I got 1. Fury 2. Wilder 3. Ruiz Jr 4. Joshua 5. Whyte