Ruiz or Joshua? Joshua or Ruiz? Here’s a look at how 14 fighters see tonight’s main event. Send along your predictions to our Tom Lutz, who will be taking over from here, via email or Twitter at @tom_lutz.
Deontay Wilder (WBC heavyweight champion): Ruiz
“I see Ruiz coming back in, doing the exact same thing he did the first time. In rematches, when you get two guys in there sharing each other’s energy, you sort of know what they’re going to do. Although you can go back into the gym, strategize and get new ideas, like Mike Tyson said: ‘Everyone has a plan until they get hit.’ And sometimes when you get hit, you go back to what you know. Ruiz still has nothing to lose. The pressure is still on Joshua to show it’s a fluke, to show it was a bad night in the office. I’m not saying Joshua can’t win. He can put it together and get the victory, but my pick is Ruiz.”
Dominic Breazeale (world heavyweight title challenger): Joshua by TKO 10
“Anthony Joshua wins. I believe that Joshua learns from his mistakes and boxes the first three rounds until he sees an opening. In the fourth round Joshua will take advantage of it. The seventh round is the most exciting round of the fight with both fighters being knocked down. In the end, however, I see Joshua coming out on top via 10th-round TKO, referee’s stoppage.”
Adam Kownacki (undefeated heavyweight contender): Ruiz by KO 9
“I think the Andy Ruiz-Anthony Joshua fight is too close to call. Both fighters are very well prepared and it’s the heavyweight division where one punch could end everything. I feel that the winner will be who wants it more. Does Andy want to be know as a heavyweight champ and to prove that the first fight was not just won by luck? Or will Anthony do everything to get his title back? I’m not convinced Anthony wants the title back. I have Andy winning again.”
Luis Ortiz (two-time world heavyweight title challenger): Joshua on points
“In my heart, I truly want for Andy Ruiz to pull off another victory over Anthony Joshua once again. But I believe that Joshua has learned a valuable lesson from losing the first fight. So I believe that Joshua will stay at a distance and that he will outbox Ruiz on the way to winning a decision.”
Gerald Washington (world heavyweight title challenger): Ruiz
“I am in camp with Andy Ruiz, and I’m witnessing, first-hand, that everything I have heard about his fast hands and his skills is true. Anthony Joshua is a great fighter and he was a tremendous champion, but Andy beat him the first time and I believe that he has the confidence to do it again.”
Joseph Parker (former WBO heavyweight champion): Joshua
“Not too sure but if I had to pick someone I think AJ will win if he uses his reach and height and moves around. Andy is one damn tough guy though and his pressure and counterpunching is spot-on.”
Claressa Shields (undisputed middleweight champion): Joshua by late-rounds KO
“I have AJ winning the rematch. Why? Because that loss forced him to change up many things. He is slimmer now, using angles and knows what he is up against. I believe Ruiz will come with the smoke he had in the first fight but people forget that Joshua dropped Ruiz first! So I see a late KO by Anthony Joshua if he sticks a hard fast jab in Ruiz’s face and get the combinations going.”
Amanda Serrano (seven-division world champion): Ruiz by mid-to-late rounds TKO
“I think that Ruiz will win again. I think mentally he has the edge and Anthony, although a good fighters, doesn’t look real confident. I predict Ruiz stops him in the mid-to-late rounds.”
Demetrius Andrade (WBA middleweight champion): Undecided
“History shows that the person who won the first time is going to win the next time. If Ruiz gets inside and uses his faster hands then it’s probably going to go the same way. But Joshua is a great fighter and if he adjusts and uses his reach to keep Ruiz on the outside then Joshua can pull of the win and get his belts back. Either way, I expect a great fight and may the best man win.”
Jaime Munguía (WBO light middleweight champion): Ruiz
“I think that Andy Ruiz will come stronger. He has more confidence in himself. Now the pressure is on Joshua’s side. Sincerely, I feel that Andy Ruiz will walk away with his hand raised.”
Román González (four-division world champion): Ruiz by KO
“I believe that Ruiz has less pressure to win this time. Not much about his mindset has changed since winning the first fight and entering the rematch, I think that Joshua’s mindset is insecure. There are so many people trying to tell him what he should do in order to beat Ruiz.”
Tevin Farmer (IBF super featherweight champion): Joshua by KO
“I honestly think it’s a 50-50 fight but Joshua’s going to knock him out. I don’t know what round but he’s going to knock Ruiz out.”
Carl Frampton (former two-division world champion): Joshua on points
“I go with Joshua, but someone is getting knocked out. Mentally, Joshua needs to be strong to regain the titles.”
Andy Lee (former WBO middleweight champion): Undecided
“The only thing I am certain of is that I don’t know who is going to win. It’s the hardest fight I can remember in a long time. There’s ways that both men can win obviously. It’s about their mentality now. Has it damaged Joshua? Will Ruiz be as hungry now? He has the money, the fame and the belts now. I can see Joshua boxing disciplined and winning on points, or Ruiz breaking him down again. A lot might depend on the night and who can handle the occasion. But I think the first round is most important. Whoever wins the first round sets the tone.”
