Andy Ruiz Jr. stops Anthony Joshua in 7th round

[True Dough]

Wow! I'd be interested in hearing H2O Man's take on this upset.

I knew little of Andy Ruiz Jr., other than his record was good. However, I figured Ruiz was carefully selected for Joshua's U.S. debut and the titles would remain with the champion.

What happened to Anthony Joshua? From the highlights I saw of last night's fight, he looked rather lethargic in the ring. He didn't have any answers for his opponent's tactics and was getting hit with a lot of counters.

Ever since Vladimir Klitschko faded, the HW division has revolved around three names: Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury. Will Andy Ruiz Jr's day in the sun be short-lived or does he belong in the conversation longer-term?

[Renew Deal]

1. Here are the highlights

The heavyweight division was often one punch away from knockout because of the power involved. This fight and the recent Wilder fight really displayed that.

[True Dough]

2. You know

I don't doubt that Ruiz punches hard. But Joshua looked like he was ready to quit. He just didn't seem right last night.

[brush]

3. Wow! Ruiz was not intimidated at all. Quick hands too for such a big man.

Fury and Wilder better watch out, and Ruiz isn't even in good shape yet.

[Auggie]

5. Thanks for posting the video

Been a while that I watched boxing, but it looked to me in the third round that Joshua got a little careless protecting his body, especially the head. Maybe that first knock down made him a little reckless.

H2O Man: Need your insights.

[quickesst]

4. never judge a book by its cover

😱🙋

https://m.

[H2O Man]

6. A significant upset.

My younger son and I were discussing the fight yesterday afternoon. I said that on paper, it looks like a tune-up win for AJ, but that what happens after that first bell rings is often different than expected. Still, I figured that even if Ruiz made it a tough fight, AJ would win either by late TKO or decision. And I knew Ruiz was a solid fighter, so I'm not making excuses for being wrong.

My boy pointed out that, for the first time in history, the Ring magazine's top ten heavyweights had only a total of seven loses etween them. Five to guys in that top ten, including four to champions. He said that the promoters' failure to make the Wilder vs Joshua fight was likely to hit an unexpected roadblock. But he didn't think Ruiz hit hard enough to take AJ out, and that he couldn't win by decisionwith a mega fight on the line.

I think -- with 20/20 hindsight -- that AJ was a bit overconfident going into the fight. Maybe focused more on being at MSG and competing with Wilder's recent devastation of a common opponent. He told people he wanted to win impressively. Rubin used to tell me that when you go into that ring looking to kick a man's ass, always remember your's is right behind you.

AJ attempted to jab from his waist, rather than from having his left hand "holding the phone." I get it: Ruiz is a body-puncher, plus AJ wanted to lift his head. But it wasn't working, and he failed to adjust. His corner is responsible there, too. Now, Ruiz has faster hands, but by the third round, AJ's punches became even slower. Not a good sign.

It's a giggle how on numerous boxing forums, AJ's fans are speculating that he was poisoned, etc. Shades of Big George after the Rumble in the Jungle. Next, they'll say his shoes were tied too tightly. The truth is that Ruiz kicked his ass. Major upset. And derails the biggest heavyweight fight of this era.

[True Dough]

7. How do you think Ruiz holds up against Wilder or Fury?

Would you pick him against either of those two?

[H2O Man]

9. Off the top

of my head, I'd give him a little bit better chance with Wilder. Still, I'd favor Wilder or Fury. But we are moving into a period where, in the next 2 to 3 years, the division will be a lot more competitive for everyone. If promoters don't ruin it, there will be very good match-ups among today's top ten.

[True Dough]

10. Loving your perspective

How about comparing today's top heavyweights to the top HWs of yesteryear. Say Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe or Mike Tyson. Do you think any of the current crop could prevail over those past champs?

[H2O Man]

11. I'm probably not

entirely objective on this. But I think if you take the heavyweight champions from Sonny Liston to Lennox Lewis, they were at a higher talent level. The "Big Three" (and now Ruiz) would definitely make for some competitive bouts against those guys. One advantage for some of the current guys is size -- I'm old enough to remember Sonny Liston being rightly considered a giant. There have long been big heavyweights for a long time, but few were coordinated. Fury is coordinated and huge.

Wilder is like a heavyweight Tommy Hearns. Those tall, lanky, strong guys generally do. Bob Foster is another example, though his combinations were distinct from Hearn's and Wilder's. But, unlike Tommy, he never learned some of the most basic things. So he'd always have a chance against anyone he hit.

It's hard to say Joshua, with all his natural and learned talents, would have done well against the other era we are discussing. All of today's top four have talents and flaws. But AJ's flaws were just exposed in a way that reduces the chances you could give him. Can you imagine Smokin' Joe taking him deep? Or Big George tagging him?

[True Dough]

12. I tend to agree with you, H2O Man

I question whether I'm biased because I grew up watching Tyson, Lewis, Bowe and Holyfield and still hold them in high esteem (as athletes, if not as human beings). I lean toward those former champions being more talented than the current crop.

Yes, Wilder possesses the power to put any of their lights out, but I think they could put on a performance similar to Fury and dodge the biggest of his bombs.

Fury might have the best chance among them of scoring a win over any of the 1990s/early 2000s champs.

As for Joshua, he reminds me of a (much) bigger version of Chris Byrd, at least stylistically.

[H2O Man]

13. Mike Tyson

has grown into an intelligent, thoughtful man. I think he was an all-time great champion in the ring. I find him more impressive today.

Lennox Lewis is a wonderful, very intelligent man. I've talked with him a few times. He is reserved, almost shy. Too many fans failed to recognize how great he was while he fought.

Bowe is a character, close friends with a friend of mine. They recently went to truck-driving school together.

Joshua reminds me a bit more of Frank Bruno, than Chris. Byrd was a master of unusual defense, but ha a solid chin when he was clipped. Bruno was also just a tad muscle bound, with a chest that makes it harder to change levels with the upper-body. (Curiously, Gene Tunney had the same issue.)Those muscles require an enormous amont of oxygen. And once either had/has a little doubt in their mind, that combination drained their energy.(Tunney didn't experience self-doubt, even after Dempsey floored him.)

[True Dough]

14. Yeah, Frank Bruno is better comparison

Tyson has matured but he was a scary man back in the day. Reckless and dangerous.

[H2O Man]

15. He was.

As a young teen, he pushed a broom in the building I worked at. I knew people that worked with him. A family friend signed him over to Cus, in fact.

As he was moving up in the ranks, a friend told me that he would eventually self-destruct. I never thought he would live to see 40.

[True Dough]

8. Clicking on this link is well worth your time...

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByNOpG_jKyU/

[True Dough]

16. Oddsmakers have already installed Joshua as the favorite if a rematch happens...

Link to tweet