Andy Ruiz vs Anthony Joshua II: Breakdown and prediction

The biggest heavyweight fight in some time is nearly upon us. Andy Ruiz Jr defends his titles against a redemption seeking Anthony Joshua, how will the sequel play out?

Andy Ruiz Jr shocked the world when he toppled Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden in the summer of this year. In what seemed like a real-life Rocky Balboa story, few saw it coming but the world watched it unfold. How could the Adonis who seemed poised to takeover the world fall like that?

If anything the first fight seemed to have more answers than questions – this time? It seems there are far more questions than answers.

Did Ruiz simply get lucky? Is AJ not as good as we thought? Did something happen behind the scenes? Can Ruiz do it again? Was AJ exposed? So many questions yet only two people can truly answer them, Andy Ruiz and Anthony Joshua.

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In gladiatorial fashion, these two men will go to war and settle a score. Will it be a repeat or will it be redemption? Anthony Joshua has been somewhat of a ghost throughout the preparation for this fight. It seems none of the typical AJ-mania has been present in the buildup, he comes into this fight lighter, looking a little more rough around the edges. His foe, meanwhile, comes into this fight heavier and seemingly full of confidence.

Throughout the build-up, questions have been posed to Joshua. Does he have a chin? Does he have the same mentality that he had when unbeaten? These are perfectly valid questions. Although, on the flip side, there are points to consider such as whether or not Joshua overlooked Ruiz, whether he truly ever recovered from the shot Ruiz landed – similarly, there are new questions being posed to the Mexican.

Has all the new found fame, money and attention come at a price for Andy? The Mexican has been seen everywhere in the media. Whilst his coach refutes that he is just as dedicated as ever, doubts linger. Could he be seen as too comfortable in this scenario? Will he get complacent in assuming people still have more expectation of his opponent than him? Has his hunger to win been fed by that success?

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Ahead of the bout, fans and pundits alike criticised the Joshua camp and suggested he change head-trainer, away from Robert McCraken. However, the Brit has stayed loyal to the cause. Although, he has taken note of many making the ‘muscles don’t win fights’ argument – appearing ten pounds lighter for this fight. He has also repeatedly heeded the advice of former foe, Wladimir Klitchsko, in completing more drills and doing more sparring.

It also shows that Joshua has considered a return to basics, and is focusing on something that was his undoing in the first fight – speed. Ruiz’s fast hands completed flustered the slow and robotic Joshua. Coming into this fight, can the newly gained weight of Ruiz have an effect? The champion has come into this fight over 20 pounds heavier than he did in the first encounter, despite some reports that he had in fact lost weight.

Ruiz is the second heaviest defending heavyweight champion of all time, although, his coach has claimed it has had zero impact in camp. Whilst his appearance clearly made no difference in the first, could he have weighed himself down and lost some of that formidable speed?

Joshua has shown that he is capable of putting fighters down. He did so to Ruiz in the first fight before getting reckless and caught. In this fight, Joshua needs to show far more patience and reserved. He must not get into a dog fight with Ruiz, who relishes in the phone-box, toe-to-toe fights. AJ has shown previously he is capable of keeping fighters like that away. Joesph Parker, who likes to fight inside, was kept at bay with AJ’s range, this is what the Brit must do with Ruiz.

For Ruiz, getting inside is his best option. He’s shown his fast hands and ability to string together combos can bring about the undoing of his opponent. Should this fight come to be a slug-fest, it’s hard to look past ‘the destroyer’ repeating his performance in New York.