Joshua v ruiz link

You don’t honestly believe that do you? Both would start as clear favourites against Joshua & were happy to fight each other.

Neither side is hiding. It’s the ****** up sport that is boxing.

Joshua with Dazn & Sky Sports, Fury with ESPN & BT Sport, Wilder with Showtime & Fox.

All about TV companies wanting their fighters to fight on their channel.

It’s why something like the WBSS is so great when all the politics are taken out of it & you get brilliant unification fights like Taylor-Prograis & Inoue-Donaire.

 

The flab on Ruiz, I was watching him wobble rather than the punches on sky news. How can you go into a fight that overweight?

 

Won't happen unfortunately. WBO already ordered AJ to fight Usyk. IBF likely to order Pulev, AJ will probably vacate WBO so he doesn't have to fight Usyk.

 

Great question. Mine would be, Why couldn’t a boxer who looked to be in the condition of a god, put away an unfit, overweight bloke who looked like he’d just been dragged out of the pub to have a go?

 

Because last time when he had Ruiz wobbled, he went in for the finish and ended up getting concussed and then the fat lad put him down 4 more times.

I don't blame Joshua and his team for fighting the way they did on Saturday, he knew Ruiz' strengths were up close, planting his feet into the mat and going toe to toe. So naturally in order to win Joshua needed to stay at length behind his jab and keep moving, and not get drawn in.

The spotlight should be on Ruiz and his unprofessionalism. His trainers wanted him back in camp July and he turned up September and then he weighed in 18 pound heavier then last fight. He knew Joshua would come in lighter and with a better game plan and what was his preparation? Eat more junk food and put less effort in to the training camp with his idea to beat Joshua "Just do the same as last time"

 

I agree totally with you on this, especially the WBSS. What a great idea that format is for the sport, we've had some great tournaments so far and I was lucky enough to be at the super middle weight semi final between Groves and Eubank, brilliant promotion. But like you say politics in the sport is the only reason why well never see a heavyweight tournament which is a shame, Kelle Sauerland is already on record saying this.

But another huge factor as to why I don't think well see AJ against either Fury or Wilder in 2020 is Eddie Hearn. The guy is pricing out all opponents, AJ came away with the biggest percentage of the pot last night and I think Eddie is on record as to saying Joshua would demand a 70-30 split of the pot against either of those two, the fight will never happen unless its a 50-50 split. I don't blame either Fury or Wilder, you only have to look at their record to see it aint them, they're fighting each other for the second time after Christmas. Whilst AJ will still fight people who are willing or need to take the small percentage of the pot. Even Whyte is in a position to turn the money down now until he gets a respectable percentage.

 

I could understand a 60/40 split with Joshua vs Wilder but it has to be 50/50 for the Fury fight because he's just as much of a star as Joshua is in this day and age.

 

In fairness AJ brings a lot more money to the table than Fury would. I suppose that could change if Fury beats Wilder.
AJ and Hearn it's all about the money and everything else is just to a act. If he really wants the legacy he will force those fights to happen. If it means giving in and let them have a bit more money why not? The guy has more money than he could ever spend.

 

Yeah it's clear he's a commercial juggernaut but the paying public only really want to see him fight a Fury or Wilder now. I personally love the sport so would like to see Usyk have a go next, he's mandatory for the WBO so I guess they will order that next. But for the casual fight fan the fight against the other big two are the only ones they want. It will never happen until he gives them a decent share.

Regarding legacy that is why they are pricing themselves out maybe? Does Joshua's team think they can beat either of them? probably not. It's hard to hate on Joshua for this because he'd fight anyone I feel. Hearn is the one to blame in my opinion for the fights not happening. Joshua is also bringing a loss to the table now too so there's a big argument for the others in this regard.

Hearn is on record speaking to IFL that neither would get 60/40. If he went in with a offer like that 12 months ago I don't think Wilder would've turned that away but when he's offering splits of 70-30 at best I can understand why they don't want to enter negotiations with the guy. 50-50 gets the fights done.

 

By the same token though they could lose out financially in order to take on Joshua and get the belt. Works both ways although I think it should always be 50/50.

 

We have four heavyweight title belts. If we say each one is 25% then if he faces Wilder he's pricing himself out by 5% with a 70/30 split. As for Fury well he should have been happy with that split too which is very good for a drugs cheat that hasn't held a title now for a few years and only performs on the lesser watched BT Sport. Despite human rights issues in Saudi Arabia and the price being increased by a fiver to 24.95 it's had 1.2 million buys breaking the all time record for the station that was previously held by the Mayweather vs Pacqiao fight, so Joshua holds all the aces.

 

Eddie is that you?

 

Yes it works both ways I agree, just Hearn presents a narrative that's it's all the other side. It's clearly both sides, however I think if they made Wilders team a reasonable offer it would happen. The offer Hearn made last time was I think 2 or 3 fight deal. So even if Wilder won his pay for the 2nd fight is fixed.
All Wilder asked for was if he won the split for the 2nd fight flipped. Hearn wouldn't give them that. Make of that what you will.

 

I don't think the argument of 25% each title has a case, Ruiz held those titles on Saturday and walked away with a lot less than Joshua did.

Your argument regarding TV deals could be countered also, Fury and Wilder are tied in the US to far bigger TV companies than Joshua is. The money is in America too for boxing as Eddie is on record saying.

Whilst I think Joshua is good for boxing at the minute and probably is the reason it has such a fan base at the moment in England, you cant argue that the reason for his rise is also down to Tyson Fury going to Germany and dethroning the champion scattering the belts around the division. The most respected belt in boxing is on the line in February too so the winner of that will hold the Ring magazine and the WBC, which everyone knows that every boxer wants those. So I don't think Joshua as you say holds all the aces. I have to disagree with you on this one.

 

Dillian Whyte said this when Miller got removed from the fight in the summer.

Hearn and Joshua offered him a small percentage and the rematch clause was also in Joshua's favour, he asked that the splits would change and they refused.

Like Whyte said he'd be in a better position to fight as a mandatory and only take 20% of the purse but there's no rematch clause so its a risk worth taking and then force AJ into taking a small split if he wants his belts back. How is that right? Hearn is all about money which is a shame because its us that suffer.

 

I predict AJ won't fight Wilder/ Fury or Usek in 2020.

 

Yes if Fury wins then that's those two tied up. I'm just saying even if Wilder wins i don't think AJ will fight him.
If Aj vacates WBO i don't think he will fight Usek at a later date either.
Just my guess.
Time will tell. That's my prediction, he wont fight any of them next year.