By Scott Gilfoid: Showing a brief glimpse of the power in his revamped left hook, Andy Ruiz Jr. staggered one of his trainers on Thursday while working out on the mitts in preparing for his December 7th rematch with Anthony Joshua.
Ruiz (33-1, 22 KOs) posted on social media a clip of the training, and he BARELY touched his trainer with a left hook on the chin, and had him wobbling. Just the tip of Ruiz’s glove touched the chin of his trainer, and it had the effect of turning his legs to jelly.
Ruiz’s power will be a BIG problem for Joshua
This is bad news for Joshua (22-1, 21 KOs), considering that there was hope from his boxing fans that Ruiz had lost too much weight to be able to destroy him again.
Ruiz has gone on a weight loss program to trim off some extra tonnage, but it doesn’t look like it’s had a negative impact on the talented American’s power. The training clip from yesterday shows that Ruiz’s power is just as good if not better than it was for his fight with AJ last summer.
I barely touched him 😅 What do you think? Retweet and let me know 🥊 pic.twitter.com/1JsFQ6yXgc
— AndyRuizjr (@Andy_destroyer1) November 14, 2019
Ruiz’s trainer took his left hook a heck of a lot better than Joshua did last June. That just shows you that Joshua’s punch resistance isn’t what it needs to be for him to mix it with a guy with Ruiz’s power, and ability.
After seeing this video clip, you must hope that Joshua’s trainer Rob McCracken has come up with a good game plan for him to use in the rematch with Ruiz on December 7th, because he’s going to be in for if not.
For those who don’t remember, Joshua was hurt by an even bigger left hook from Ruiz in the third round of their previous fight on June 1 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Just like Ruiz’s trainer, Joshua’s legs went immediately, causing him to stagger.
Ruiz followed up with a beautiful combination that put Joshua down face first on the canvas. From there it was just a matter of time before Ruiz put the badly shaken Joshua out of his misery. The Coup de Grace came in the 7th when Ruiz knocked Joshua down TWICE with hurtful looking combinations to the head.
Joshua trying to win back belts
What can Joshua do if he can’t handle the power from Ruiz on December 7th? Does Joshua hold for 12 rounds, and hope he can win a controversial decision? What about running? Will that work for Joshua? It’s assumed that Joshua’s only chance of beating Ruiz is by running and holding for 12 rounds, because he can’t trade with him. Ruiz hits too hard, and Joshua’s stamina and chin is something awful.
Former IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Joshua will be trying to get his titles back in a rematch with Ruiz Jr. (33-1, 22 KOs) on December 7 in Saudi Arabia.
Although Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn don’t want to admit it, his career could be on the line in this fight. If Joshua gets smashed to bits AGAIN by Ruiz, it could be retirement time.
Sure, Joshua could continue after a second consecutive knockout loss to Ruiz, but his boxing fans would likely be jumping overboard from a SINKING ship as they can.
Hearn wouldn’t be able to rebuild Joshua proper without putting him in against decent quality opposition. If Hearn goes back to the fodder route that he used to build Joshua’s resume in the first place, the fans will see what he’s doing, and be turned off.