Joshua vs Ruiz: Your Expert Boxing Tips

The First Fight

Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz met for the first time only six short months ago, with Joshua – the heavy betting favorite and reigning champion – being surprised by Ruiz and losing four championship belts in the span of only seven rounds. Despite being the first man to get dropped in the third round, Ruiz never hit the canvas again on his way to flooring the then-champion Joshua a staggering four times before the bout was finally waved off just before the halfway mark of the seventh frame.

The Rematch

Even though the titles changed hands last time out, Anthony Joshua is once again installed as the betting favorite at approximately $1.50 while backers of the new champion Andy Ruiz can be graced with roughly $3.20 potential return on investment. Predictably, the betting odds also suggest that this contest will end by some form of stoppage.

Known for his infamously doughy physique, Andy Ruiz is not typically considered an explosive puncher but he brings deceptive speed, a durable chin, and surprising punching power every time he steps into the ring.

An amateur Mexican national champion, Ruiz is no stranger to the finer points of technical boxing either, and despite often being outsized in the heavyweight division at only 6’2”, Ruiz has been able to amass impressive victories over all opposition aside from dropping a closely contested majority decision to New Zealand superstar Joseph Parker.

An accomplished amateur in his own right having earned a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics (in his backyard of the United Kingdom, no less), Joshua has accumulated an excellent array of accomplishments in his relatively short professional career, toppling previously unbeaten Dillian Whyte, Dominic Breazeale, and Joseph Parker, in addition to well-known figures in the division such as Alexander Povetkin and Wladimir Klitschko.

With five knockdowns exchanged between the two of them only six months ago (again, four of which were suffered by Joshua), it stands to reason that their rematch would see yet another explosive display of punching power. That being said, I believe this contest is likely to look different – both in result and pace.

Now facing the stiffest tests of both of their respective careers, Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz will run it back once more in what will be one of the biggest bouts remaining in 2019.

The challenger

While it is easy to look at Joshua hitting the canvas four times as evidence of Andy Ruiz’s inevitable victory and ability to pull ahead as the victor in the rematch, it is important to note that Joshua never recovered his legs after being dropped in the third round of their initial bout.

The Brit is no stranger to adversity, most notably rising off the canvas against Wladimir Klitschko to eventually finish the living legend, but did not seem to find his footing again after being dropped by the rotund Andy Ruiz.

The Champion

There is no question that Ruiz is capable of hurting and dropping Anthony Joshua, but I feel there is more to this bout than just the punching power of Ruiz. It is imperative to note that Joshua, despite being dropped so many times, was still very much in the fight by the judge’s tally – in fact, even leading by a round on one scorecard at the time of the stoppage!

Andy Ruiz is regarded as the picturesque “underdog story” due to his conquering of Anthony Joshua – on five-week notice, no less – but I suspect this time around, with a full training camp under both of their belts, we will see a contest that favors Anthony Joshua by wider margins.

Now allowed to grow accustomed to the speed and power that the shorter stature of Andy Ruiz brings to the table, and less worried about looking for a finish as he was the first time around, I suspect Joshua will find himself more at home starting the bout with a fresh mind and body.

Conclusion

I believe Anthony is the stronger boxer in this contest, and without his overzealous attempts to finish an opponent I feel he drastically underestimated, Joshua should be able to pick up round after round on the scorecards with little more than a stiff jab and disciplined composure.

There is a very real possibility that Andy Ruiz will land something sizable, Joshua will lose his legs, and history will repeat itself in the dry Diriyah Arena of Saudi Arabia where the rematch will be taking place.

That said, I strongly feel that there is significant value in betting on Joshua, as the superior technician, taking advantage of the relatively slow pace of Andy Ruiz and outboxing him round after round en route to a surprisingly uneventful decision victory.