By Geno McGahee
In June, Andy Ruiz, JR., 33-1, 22 KO’s, scored a major upset and knocked out the defending heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, 22-1, 21 KO’s. The big fight that was building between Joshua and WBC kingpin, Deontay Wilder, evaporated as Joshua quit the fight and the WBA, IBF and WBO titles went to Ruiz, JR. To many, Joshua was exposed, but the money train was off the tracks and that derailment cost many millions. To get back on track, Joshua needs to reclaim the belts and there is a method to the madness.
Joshua has trimmed down, eliminating the large muscle mass he acquired. He is going back to his boxing roots and is focusing on what’s best for his performance in the ring. He is taller and hits harder and will plan to fight on the outside, but Ruiz, JR., still seems to have his number with the counter-punching combinations that demolished him. I didn’t see a way for Joshua to get beyond that because Ruiz JR would eventually find the mark and get the KO again. Boxing never fails to surprise me and we now have a new element thrown at the defending champion: Saudi Arabia, the location of the rematch.
The champion has been adamant about fighting in Saudi Arabia, but he is contractually bound and will mostly defend his titles there in a rematch, but what’s contractually bound doesn’t seem right. Ruiz, JR., has serious concerns about going to a place where mistreatment of women is so rampant and where people have turned up dead under mysterious circumstances. There should be concern for his well-being and that fear for his health seems to already have impacted his training or lack thereof.
The WWE has gotten a lot of money and a lot of criticism for their shows in Saudi Arabia. It is understood that WWE is a business and they want to make money, but there is kickback from human rights groups along with the fans that don’t like the idea of promoting a country that have not treated women or homosexuals correctly. So now we go onto the heavyweight title fight, which will further legitimatize the place as a tourist resort and big world player in entertainment. This is reminiscent of Sun City.
With this location hanging over Ruiz, JR.’s head and the inability to dictate any detail in the fight, he may have already lost. If he can’t get it together and doesn’t give his all to training, he will be another Buster Douglas…one and done. He has to be better and in better shape because he’s facing a better AJ this time. He has to ignore the surroundings, the concern for any danger in Saudi Arabia, and just win the fight. If he pushes AJ into exchanges, he will win by KO again, as long as he is not out of shape or distracted.
I initially heavily favored Ruiz, JR., but I’m not so sure now. The fight is heavily leaning in the favor of AJ with all of the pressure being put on the champion. I will wait to see the condition of Ruiz, JR., as he goes into this. If he’s in shape, he wins. If we see a heavier heavyweight, look for a quick KO loss to AJ and the calls that the first fight was a fluke due to bad training, anxiety attack or whatever else they can come up with.
