Punch 2 the Face Radio

In this week's Punch 2 the Face Radio, Brandon and I talked about Teofimo Lopez's star making performance in his knockout over Richard Commey. We debated if Lopez has a real chance against Lomachenko. We assessed Terence Crawford's victory over Mean Machine. We also previewed Saturday's intriguing Harrison-Charlo rematch. And, what to make of Jacobs-Chavez?  We covered all the angles.
 
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Also, find us on Spotify: Punch 2 the Face Radio, Episode 155.


Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. He's a member of Ring Magazine's Ring Ratings Panel and a Board Member for the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. 
Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com.

snboxing on twitter. SN Boxing on Facebook. 

Julian Williams: Dreams and the Realities of Boxing

"It was an amazing year...it changed my life." – Julian Williams

Early in 2019 Julian "J-Rock" Williams was on the road to his second title shot. Training to face unified junior middleweight titlist Jarrett Hurd, Williams entered the fight as a significant underdog. There were a few reasons for that: In his first title shot in 2016, Williams was dropped three times against Jermall Charlo and lost by fifth-round knockout. In addition, Hurd was mowing down some of the best that the junior middleweight division had to offer. He knocked out now-titlist Tony Harrison, he was the first fighter to stop former champion Austin Trout and he won a spirited battle against long-time 154-lb. beltholder Erislandy Lara. Hurd also was physically enormous for the division, and his size was supposed to be an advantage going into the May fight against Williams. 

Yet when they faced each other in the ring, conventional wisdom was turned on its head. Not only was Williams the quicker fighter, both in terms of hand and foot speed, but he was the more physical one. And it was Williams who scored the early knockdown in the fight, flooring Hurd with a sharp right hand in the second round. He would go on to win by a unanimous decision in a fantastic match. 

Williams (left) in his title-winning effort in May
Photo Courtesy of Stephanie Trapp

Looking back on his title-winning effort, it wasn't just that J-Rock got the win, he had been highly regarded as an emerging fighter on the junior middleweight scene, but it was the audacity of his performance that was particularly captivating. Those who gave Williams a good chance to win the fight thought that he would have to command the outside. But few thought that taking it to Hurd on the inside would be his path to victory. 

Speaking with Williams over six months after the fight, one can still feel his excitement over what he was able to accomplish. The decision to fight Hurd on the inside wasn't a gut instinct or an adaptation during the bout; it was a central approach to getting the win. 

"We saw that he was overwhelming opponents with his size not his skill," said Williams. "The fighters that he fought – and take no credit away from him because he beat three guys in the top ten – but when we looked at them, Lara wasn’t a good inside fighter. He had plenty of nuts, gritty, a lot of heart and skill, but he wasn’t a good inside fighter. Then we looked at Tony [Harrison]. Tony wasn’t physically strong enough to deal with Jarrett Hurd. Then we looked at Austin Trout, who's a really good fighter, but he’s not an inside fighter either...and I knew how good I was on the inside, despite what everybody else thought."

In an interview with Williams's trainer, Stephen "Breadman" Edwards, immediately after the victory, he said that he wanted Julian to preserve his legs in the fight and that Hurd's opponents often wilted in the second half because of their movement trying to evade Hurd's pressure. Edwards also realized that Hurd preferred to get extension on his shots and he thought that Julian would be the much sharper and more versatile fighter at close range. 

After the victory, Williams (27-1-1, 16 KOs) expected Hurd to exercise his rematch clause, and that they would fight at the end of the year. However, Hurd declined, leaving Williams without a dance partner. Into the breach stepped Jeison Rosario (19-1-1, 13 KOs), a junior middleweight from the Dominican Republic who is now based in Miami. Williams and Rosario will meet in the ring on Jan. 18 at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia (Fox will televise). Although Rosario doesn't have a particularly high profile within the sport, he can fight, and Williams knows it. In the last two years Rosario has sprung upsets over Jamontay Clark and Justin DeLoach.

"He's a really aggressive fighter," said Williams. "He had some fights where he came through where he wasn’t supposed to win. So that shows me a level of character. Coming in as a B-side, fighting guys that are perceived to be more talented than he is, and he’s won some of these fights. He took a loss to [Nathaniel] Gallimore [whom Williams beat in 2018], but he was a young pup back then. He rebounded. He’s gotten better over the last few years. And just because people don’t know who he is, that doesn’t mean that he can’t fight.

"When I say that, people might think that I’m trying to big my opponent up. I’m not. The dude can fight. His record is his record. He’s beaten who he’s beaten. I can’t take that away from him. And Jeison’s getting the opportunity of his life. He can change his life forever taking 36 minutes. We have to be prepared."

Williams and Rosario at the pre-fight presser
Photo Courtesy of Stephanie Trapp/TGB Promotions

Although some boxers have struggled fighting at home, the Philadelphia-born Williams is embracing his hometown title defense. In fact, Williams has been fighting on the road for so long that he last boxed in the City of Brotherly Love all the way back in 2011 as an 8-0 young prospect. For J-Rock, he's looking forward to his homecoming. 

Since winning the title, there have been many wonderful moments for Williams, but one has stood out. One day when he was picking up his four-year-old daughter from pre-school, he noticed that she was holding a picture of him. And she was bragging to everyone that the man in the picture, her father, was the world champion. And Williams said that he had never felt prouder. 

Despite his new-found status in the sport, Julian remains level-headed. A successful real estate investor, Williams hasn't been overwhelmed by the influx of new money. His friends know him as prudent with his financial decision making. No one is coming up to him with get-rich-quick schemes. His circle is close and tight, and those who are let in know that Williams isn't one to be exploited. However, J-Rock did joke that since winning the title he's discovered more cousins than he ever knew he had. 

For Williams and Edwards, they are far from self-satisfied. They know Rosario presents a viable threat and there are other huge fights in the division coming up. J-Rock thinks that he has three or four fights left in the division before he moves up to middleweight, but the allure of becoming an undisputed champ at 154 lbs. motivates him. And if he needs to be on a strict diet to ensure that he stays in the division, so be it. For Williams to fulfill all of his dreams at 154 lbs. he knows that the gym will help lead him there. Despite an excellent showing in his victory over Hurd, he is personally never satisfied with his performance. He knows that there are areas for improvement. 

"I’m trying to work on my whole game," he said. "I got flaws. I went back and looked at the Hurd fight and I took a lot from it. I never want to say that I looked good. Even though it was an amazing fight, I did a lot of things wrong. I pulled off when I should have stepped on him. I think I need to become a better finisher. I think I get guys hurt all the time, but I don’t always finish them. There are a lot of things I can work on."

And even though 2019 has been a wonderful time in Williams's life, he understands the realities of boxing. Someone always wants what you have, and there are no short cuts. 

"It’s probably one of the greatest years of my life," he said. "I accomplished a lifelong goal. Everybody that turns pro doesn’t wind up being world champion. And the ones that do, don’t become unified champion. So I achieved a lifelong dream in 2019. I recognize that. 

"I have to train with the same vigor and the same focus that I had before because this kid [Rosario] is trying to achieve his dream. I can’t overlook him – you know with [Brian] Castano [who will soon be fighting for the WBO title at 154] and Jermell [Charlo] and Tony [Harrison]. That shit don’t matter right now, because I can’t get to them without getting through Rosario."

If things break right for Williams, 2020 could be a momentous year for him as well. He's excited for his future in boxing, but he also knows that the 154-lb. division can be unforgiving. Taking each fight as it comes will be vital for him. At 29 he's in the prime of his career. He has two title belts and handfuls of potential opponents who want them. With each win his opportunities will continue to grow; his name will become that much more prominent within the sport. Yet there are threats everywhere, starting with Rosario on Jan. 18, and Williams vows that he will be ready for the challenge. 

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. He's a member of Ring Magazine's Ring Ratings Panel and a Board Member for the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. 
Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com.
snboxing on twitter. SN Boxing on Facebook.    

Opinions and Observations: Ruiz-Joshua 2

Survive and advance. 

You hear this term during the annual NCAA college basketball tournament, and it applies to a favored team facing a tough style matchup or a scrappy underdog. When in this situation it is no longer about dominating, looking good or style points; it's only about getting the win, by whatever means necessary. 

Despite his portly physique and short reach, Andy Ruiz presents a difficult style matchup for Anthony Joshua. Although Joshua has the traditional heavyweight boxing build and more offensive weapons, Ruiz has faster hands and is far more successful fighting on the inside. In June Joshua found out the hard way how imposing Ruiz could be when the fight is on his terms – Joshua was floored four times and knocked out in the seventh round. 

Photo Courtesy of Mark Robinson

After his loss in June, Joshua was encouraged by many in the sport to fire his trainer, Rob McCracken, but he ignored those calls and stuck with his coach. This decision was a tacit admission from Joshua that he himself accepted blame for the Ruiz defeat. 

Joshua's performance on Saturday demonstrated an understanding of his mistakes from the first fight. And the rematch looked completely different in the ring. Sticking to the outside of the ring, commanding the action with his jab and using his legs, he boxed his way to a wide decision victory (118-110, 118-110, 119-109), regaining his heavyweight titles. In fact, he did far more than survive. He was only hit with a handful of big shots all fight. 

To win as comprehensively as he did, Joshua had to check his ego at the door. Even though Joshua had 21 knockouts in his 22 victories, he realized that boxing Ruiz at a distance would allow for his best chance of winning. The rematch for AJ wasn't about fireworks, settling scores, beating Ruiz at his own game, machismo, or galvanizing his fans in the crowd. His victory depended on intelligence, humility and maturity; admittedly, these attributes aren't necessarily boxing's sexiest things, but they are practical nonetheless. 

Joshua's victory on Saturday should not be dismissed as merely jab-and-move; it was considerably more. He landed several hard right hands and lead left hooks. Perhaps even more importantly, when they did exchange, he wisely stepped out of range to reset the action. There were no attempts at five- or six-punch combinations. At most it was one or two shots, and that was more than enough. 

Photo Courtesy of Mark Robinson

This isn't to say Joshua fought a perfect fight on Saturday. He made some mistakes. Joshua got away with a few left hooks that left him completely out of position. In addition, he exhibited a poor ability to clinch. Numerous times he attempted to clinch, yet Ruiz was successful in getting off a chopping right hand or a left hook. This is a technique issue, and Joshua has not mastered it. (Perhaps Joshua should talk to his friend Wlad Klitschko about clinching. He could render an opponent completely inoperable during a tie-up.) In these moments Joshua was lucky that he wasn't rabbit punched more or hit with a well-placed equilibrium shot behind his ear. Luckily for Joshua, he will have an opportunity to improve in this area for subsequent fights.

At the age of 30 and now with 24 professional bouts, Joshua has realized that some fighters can take your best shots. In addition, firepower is a two-way street. The more chances you give an opponent, the more opportunities for him to land his own punches. Overall, 2019 has been an education for Joshua. He has lost his sheen of invincibility, but he has gained invaluable knowledge about championship boxing. 

Joshua is now in the phase of his career where his Ring IQ will be vital to defeating top-caliber opposition. He's been dropped by multiple opponents (Klitschko, Ruiz) and badly stung in other fights (Whyte and Povetkin) where he didn't hit the canvas. His recuperation powers aren't great, and if his chin isn't yet a liability, it's certainly not a strength. Joshua needs to be intelligent with his pressure and power shots moving forward. However, he now knows that he has multiple ways to beat a top opponent, and that should give him confidence if he needs to go to a Plan B. 

As for Andy Ruiz, we've seen the good and bad from him in 2019. No boxing fan will forget his epic upset of Joshua in June. The image of him jumping up and down in the ring after the victory is what boxing dreams are made of. I'm sure more than a few hardened boxing observers got choked up during his post-fight interview when he said "Mom, we don't have to struggle anymore." He's a likable guy and easy to root for. 

But you can also see why Top Rank let him go. They were tired of seeing Ruiz sleepwalk through fights. Too often he was out-of-shape and underprepared. He lacked the professionalism required of top-level fighters. 

Ruiz didn't do himself any favors for Saturday's rematch. He delayed training camp. He was out living the life. He came into the fight 15 pounds heavier than he did in June. I'm sure he knew that Joshua would try to outbox him from distance, but he didn't seem mentally or physically ready for that type of fight.

Photo Courtesy of Mark Robinson

Andy must now decide what he wants out of boxing. All told, he's made over $15 million from his two fights this year. That's more than 99% of fighters will ever earn. Andy's a success story. He made it. He's why young fighters work so hard in the gym. No matter what they look like they could one day be champion of the world.  

But boxing is unforgiving. Skimping on training camps and preparation time catches up with any fighter, irrespective of skill level. There will always be an opponent hungrier, wanting what you have, trying to make a name off of you.

A focused and prepared Ruiz remains formidable in the heavyweight division. There are numerous fighters in the top-ten that he could potentially beat. However, an apathetic Ruiz is ripe for the picking. At only 30 years of age, he certainly has time for another run, but for many fighters boxing is only a means to an end. And from the outside it doesn't seem as if Ruiz has an ongoing love affair with the sport.  

Al Haymon and the PBC will provide Ruiz with opportunities to regain his titles, but any future success will depend on his dedication to the sport. He no longer will have the element of surprise. Top fighters will know how to beat him and it will be up to him to cut the ring off and force his type of fight. 

Regardless of whether Ruiz has another consequential victory, he has imprinted his name in boxing lore.  Should he hang up the spurs in the near future, boxing enthusiasts will always wonder what he could have accomplished if he fought at something resembling his optimal weight. But let's also not dismiss what he did at 268 lbs. to an era-defining heavyweight. His win over Joshua was no fluke; Andy could really fight. 

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. He's a member of Ring Magazine's Ring Ratings Panel and a Board Member for the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. 
Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com.
snboxing on twitter. SN Boxing on Facebook.    

Ruiz-Joshua II: Preview and Prediction

Andy Ruiz's shocking seventh-round knockout of heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua has been the defining moment of boxing in 2019. A late-replacement opponent, Ruiz got off the canvas in the third round and won a battle of left hooks later in the frame to turn the tide in the fight. He would drop Joshua four times over the course of the match to become an improbable heavyweight champion. Ruiz had never lacked skills, but his portly shape, inconsistent punch output, and short reach left him with limited ways to win the fight. However, Joshua's over-aggressiveness after scoring his knockdown in the third provided Ruiz with the opening he needed to let his fast hands work their magic. 

Ruiz's victory over Joshua was more than a well-timed left hook. Despite facing few world-level opponents in his professional career, he was the fighter who appeared to be more seasoned in the ring. He didn't punch himself out in the third round trying to finish Joshua, a mistake that many fighters would have made. He realized that it would take more, and he kept enough in the tank to remain fresh and vibrant. In the fifth and six rounds he expertly worked Joshua's body to deplete him further. After hurting Joshua again in the seventh, Ruiz didn't smother his own work on the inside. His shots were purposefully placed and landed with maximum impact. Yes, Joshua had played into Ruiz's hands earlier in the fight (more on this later), but there was nothing flukish about Ruiz's victory; it was well earned. The better man won on the night. 

Photo Courtesy of Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

Ruiz (33-1, 22 KOs) and Joshua (22-1, 21 KOs) meet for the rematch on Saturday at the Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia. Despite Ruiz's conclusive victory in June, he remains the betting underdog heading into the fight. When considering how the rematch might play out, there are a number of factors to consider, so let's jump right in: 

Perhaps Ruiz's biggest advantage in the first fight was the element of surprise. Joshua was originally supposed to face Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller, a hulking heavyweight who frequently weighs in at over 300 lbs., but whose chief skill is volume punching. Miller is two inches taller and has a four-inch longer reach than Ruiz. And although these dimensions don't scream out as massively different, the two fighters succeed in vastly divergent manners. Miller swarms opponents with volume and physicality. Few heavyweights can keep up with his pace of 80-100 punches a round. Ruiz on the other hand is far more economical with his punch output and relies on his quick counters at close range to cause damage. In short, these were two significantly different opponents. 

It's safe to say that Ruiz doesn't look the part. His body jiggles in the ring. When not in close range he has few weapons. Although he's good on his feet, no one would confuse him for a top-class athlete. But if Ruiz gets an opponent in his wheelhouse he has a plethora of ways to score. Accustomed to fighting taller opponents, Ruiz has become adept at throwing every punch in his arsenal to the body. He's also fluid with combinations, wonderfully mixing in shots to the body and head. In addition he has excellent timing and accuracy. If there's an opening in close quarters, he'll find it. 

After the first two knockdowns in June Joshua's trainer, Rob McCracken, implored his fighter not to trade hooks with Ruiz. And ultimately what did Joshua in during the seventh was an exchange where he refused to follow his trainer's guidance. In another battle of left hooks, Ruiz won, and Joshua sustained further damage; he wouldn't make it to the end of the round. 

In the aftermath of the defeat, there was a clamor from many boxing outposts for Joshua to dump McCracken and select a new head trainer. Many believed that Joshua was underprepared for Ruiz and didn't seem mentally switched on for the fight. How much of that criticism should be leveled at McCracken is up for debate. 

I believe that McCracken is one of the best in the business. He did a wonderful job as Carl Froch's cornerman, featuring great game plans in fights against Lucian Bute and the rematch against Mikkel Kessler. He also made crucial in-fight adjustments that led to Froch getting come-from-behind wins, such as in the Jermain Taylor and George Groves fights. Froch's ability to come back certainly speaks to the fighter's skill set, self-belief and ability to implement needed changes, but it also illustrates McCracken's clear-headedness during big moments, especially when things don't go his way with the initial fight plan. 

McCracken has worked with Joshua since his amateur days and if anyone deserves credit in addition to the fighter for his development into a multi-dimensional heavyweight force, it is McCracken. However, it's certainly worth pointing out that relationships can grow stale or lose effectiveness over time. So the first big decision heading into the rematch is whether Joshua was right to keep McCracken for the rematch. 

Although there are rare exceptions, when fighters ignore their coaches' wishes and start to freelance in the ring that's not usually a good indication of the health of the boxer/trainer partnership. I believe that McCracken was giving Joshua sound advice in the corner during the Ruiz fight, but Joshua ultimately went in his own direction. He either didn't fully believe in McCracken's commands or he wasn't lucid enough to process them – and let's not discount that possibility. 

One significant opportunity that Ruiz will have in the rematch is Joshua's relatively poor powers of recuperation. While Joshua was able to recover in his thrilling fight against Wladimir Klitschko in 2017, he needed several rounds after getting dropped in the sixth to get back on solid footing. Furthermore, once Joshua was hurt in the third round against Ruiz, he never made a full recovery. If Ruiz can hurt Joshua again in the rematch, he will have several rounds to get the stoppage. This can be a huge factor for a fighter like Ruiz, who doesn't possess true one-punch knockout power. 

The ultimate key for Joshua in the rematch will be to avoid getting hurt, and this will be a tough proposition. Ruiz will be live all 12 rounds inching his way forward, looking to capitalize on mistakes and openings, and trying to get the knockout. And if I didn't see Joshua accomplish a similar task earlier in his career, I would say that beating Ruiz would be too much for him to handle. However, Joshua fought such a fight in 2018 against Joseph Parker, a boxer with similar dimensions to Ruiz. In that bout Joshua controlled much of the action with jabs and right hands from the outside. When Parker made his way forward, Joshua mostly tied up instead of engaging on the inside. It was a poor fight to watch, but ultimately it resulted in a comfortable Joshua victory. 

Joshua's Parker fight presents the blueprint for how he can beat Ruiz, but this will require a disciplined effort, and he has to dispose of the notion of trying to look spectacular. (Many pundits have pointed to Joshua's desire to make a big statement in his American debut for his over-eagerness in the third round – rushing in for the stoppage win and misjudging Ruiz's comportment in the ring.)

I think it's fair to say that Joshua lacked some degree of respect for Ruiz in the first fight and I highly doubt he will fall into that trap in the rematch. Part of the reason why Joshua was able to win with such relative ease against Parker was his healthy respect for the opponent. Parker was a fellow titlist (beating Ruiz, by the way, to earn his belt) and possessed imposing dimensions on the inside. Against Parker, Joshua remained cautious and patiently put rounds in the bank. 

In preparing for the rematch Ruiz will need to do more than wait for a perfect opportunity to land a game-changing counter punch. He and trainer Manny Robles will have to assume that Joshua and McCracken will try to take away Ruiz's counter left hook. Thus, Ruiz will have to offer some additional dimensions to win the fight. 

I believe that the key for Ruiz will be the double jab to the body; that probably will be his best way to get inside. Joshua will respect those shots enough to defend them. Should Ruiz be effective with the double jab, that will open up additional opportunities for his power shots. If he's successful look for the following combinations: double jab to the body/overhand right to the head and double jab to the body/overhand right to the head/left hook to the head. 

Ruiz will need to patiently set up these combinations and he can't worry about losing rounds early in the fight. He must stick with the jab. And if Joshua keeps his defense tight, then Ruiz has to proceed to hitting the body. The double jab to the body/straight right hand to the body will work too. His main focus should be working the body with enough regularity to get Joshua to lose his defensive shape. That will be essential in causing further damage. 

For Joshua to win he will need more than jabs from the outside. Ruiz will eventually find his way through the jab if that's all there is. He'll eat them and keep coming. Joshua must fire his right hand with maximum impact at points. And if Ruiz starts inching a little too close, single right uppercuts will work as well. The point is one power shot, a good one, and get out of the pocket. Don't get into prolonged exchanges. Turn Ruiz, step away and reset the action. Make Ruiz try to win when on the move, where he can't plant his feet. 

The pick is Joshua by unanimous decision, but this fight will be fraught for AJ from bell to bell. Ruiz will be setting traps throughout the bout and Joshua will need to be physically and mentally sharp all match. I believe that Joshua knows how to win this type of fight. And I'm banking on that the destruction caused by Ruiz in June will be enough for Joshua to follow McCracken's game plan to a T. 

However, if there are moments of freelancing from Joshua, if he switches off at points in the fight, if he starts to let machismo get the better of him, then Ruiz will have his opportunities to win the fight. Let's say that Joshua wins eight or nine rounds and survives a couple of shaky moments. In the end it won't be a convincing victory, but in this particular matchup, style points don't matter for Joshua. The win is everything for him at this stage of his career. And if he stays on his feet and controls the outside, that should be enough to raise his hands at the end of the fight. It won't be inspiring stuff, but sometimes pragmatism is the answer.

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. He's a member of Ring Magazine's Ring Ratings Panel and a Board Member for the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. 
Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com.
snboxing on twitter. SN Boxing on Facebook.