Mo Money Mo Problems
Has Andy Ruiz Jr blown it and allowed his new-found fame and fortune to seal his fate in his highly anticipated rematch with Anthony Joshua? The champion weighed in under the Saudi sun at 283 pounds – fifteen pounds heavier than he did for his first fight with Joshua.
Conspiracy theorists have already suggested Ruiz may have had weights in his pockets – perhaps another ploy in his attempt to get into Joshua’s head. I don’t buy it.
Whilst Ruiz has built a successful boxing career in proving critics of his rotund physique wrong; the extra timber he’s put on for the rematch surely doesn’t bode well for him.
In marked contrast to Ruiz, a more athletic looking Joshua stepped onto the scales at 237 pounds – 11 pounds lighter than he weighed for their first fight.
Joshua’s physique reinforces the challenger’s claims of focussing his training on improving his mastery of the sweet science for the rematch. There’s no doubt that a little less time spent in the weight room and trimming back some obligations attached to the upkeep of the AJ brand will have done him no harm.
And whilst there’s only so much improvement a fighter can expect in six months, improvements to Joshua’s stamina coupled with a greater degree of elasticity to his boxing should prove beneficial.
Ruiz’s performance in their fight first reminded us of the dangers of judging a book by its cover; however, nearly fifty pounds now separates the two fighters and I can only see this playing into Joshua’s hands.
But this may all prove inconsequential should Joshua not get his tactics right. Moving around the ring boxing on the back foot didn’t work for him in the first fight.
From a tactical perspective, I believe key to Joshua's success is in taking centre of the ring and boxing Ruiz at range behind long straight punches. He’ll undoubtedly have to deal with pressure from Ruiz that’ll force him to use his legs at times – but he needs to control the ring and not let Ruiz be the boss.
Ruiz will surely look to repeat his game plan from their first fight with pressure and combination punching to penetrate Joshua’s defences and expose any mental weaknesses that may by present.
Joshua learned the hard way how dangerous Ruiz is in the exchanges. He can’t get carried away and turn it into a street fight – he needs to soften Ruiz up at range before bringing in shorter uppercuts and hooks.
Sky Boxing’s Adam Smith raised an interesting point in a recent interview when he spoke about the absence of Joshua’s trademark uppercuts against Ruiz in their first fight. The right uppercut can be an effective punch against an aggressive shorter opponent coming forward – indeed it set up Joshua’s left hook which sent Ruiz reeling to the canvas in the third round.
But the uppercut needs to be utilised carefully by Joshua, particularly in any early close quarters exchanges which could leave him open to Andy Ruiz’s best punch – the counter left hook.
So, time for my pre-fight prediction. Up until fight week I’ve been picking Ruiz to close the show again. I’m certainly no psychologist but I hadn’t been convinced by the manner Joshua has talked about his loss and his plans to avenge it during the pre-fight build up. Ruiz on the other hand has looked confident, relaxed and ready to do a job.
But Friday’s weigh in has changed my mind. Should Joshua get his tactics right and assuming his state-of-mind is on point, I’m predicting revenge in Saudi for Joshua.
0 Comments Add a Comment?