Andy Ruiz Jr. in Diriyah: Eye of The Fatman, or Eye of The Tiger? New Brizel Editorial
Editorial By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
To the blaring music of ‘Rocky’, Gonna Fly Now, Andy ‘Destroyer’ Ruiz Jr., the current world heavyweight champion of four organizations, has yet to prove he is gonna fly against former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in their rematch tonight at Diriyah Arena in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, in the main event.
Ruiz, 33-1 with 22 knockouts, Imperial, California, has chosen the cheeseburger route, weighing in not svelte but instead at a whopping whopper 283 pounds, 46.7 pounds higher than Anthony Joshua this time. With Mexican hat atop his head, Ruiz looks much the part of an inflated Mexican cheeseburger looking for another juicy payday. Perhaps, if he loses this one, he can get another payday in a third rubber match with A.J. It is Ruiz’ highest weight since is first two matches in 2009 against opponents with a combined record of 2-33-1. At the rolly polly guacamole weight, Ruiz is not fooling anybody.
Joshua, 22-1 with 21 knockouts, Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, lacks the amateur experience, depth, and dimension of Ruiz. Yet, on the other hand, Joshua will enter the ring in the Diriyah main event in neutral territory at 237 pounds, his lowest weight since his first two pro bouts in 2013, against opponents with a combined 24-25-1 record. The distinction on how Ruiz and Joshua began their careers in their first two bouts in noteworthy because the weights then and now make the distinction of critical significance in predicting the outcome of this bout.
Simply put, Ruiz has lost his eye of the tiger. Expect Joshua to NOT stand in front of Ruiz, and to jab and move at a distance and break Ruiz down late in the bout, drop him and stop him in rounds eight through eleven. Short, obese, and flat-footed, Ruiz’ game plan will be neutralized by a smarter Joshua, who will not be so stupid the second time around as to stand in front of Ruiz and trade, but to counter wisely, effectively, and with pinpoint power shot and jab accuracy. Joshua, at a lower weight, will be able to move better, and not offer Ruiz a consistent target if he moves and keeps countering to break Ruiz down. When Muhammad Ali fought Larry Holmes in Las Vegas in 1980, some press called Ali’s ‘Doom in the Desert’. Andy Ruiz Jr. is doomed. In an outcome reminiscent of Floyd Patterson versus Ingemar Johansson II in 1960, Ruiz is likely doomed to get knocked out in this rematch, in an ending predicted to end in ugly fashion. On the undercard, Michael Hunter versus Alexander Povetkin is a wild slugfest to determine the next heavyweight world title challenger. Povetkin weighed in at 229 pounds, Hunter 226 pounds, which says it all. These two men still want it bad. Ruiz, a Mexican Mayor McCheese lookalike, does not.
COMMENTS
English