Boxing News – June 27, 2019

http://www.boxingnewsonline.net JUNE 27, 2019 lBOXING NEWSl 13

After coming close to beating
Dillian Whyte last year, one
wonders if Matchroom’s latest
signing, who lost his WBO title to
Anthony Joshua in 2017, really has
what it takes to trouble the leaders.
But Parker, still only 27, could
yet make the most of his recent
education. Expect him to dominate
Alex Leapai this weekend ( June 29).

The British hero refuses to give

up but his history of taking heavy

punches will catch up with him

sooner rather than later. May have

just enough left to get past Artur

Szpilka on July 20 but hard to see

him then beating someone like

Joseph Parker to earn a title shot.

Treasure him for as long as he’s

here, though. It’s been a wild ride.

Unranked by BN due to his

history of getting busted for

performance enhancing drugs (we

have a two strikes and you’re out

rule). However, Ortiz, even at his

advanced age, remains one of the

most skilled and dangerous fighters

outside of the titlists. Even so,

probably too old to improve on his

loss to Wilder in their return.

Brooklyn-based Pole Adam

Kownacki should finish Chris

Arreola in August... Croatia’s

Filip Hrgovic, Joe Joyce and

the winner of Daniel Dubois-

Nathan Gorman are among the

best prospects... Hughie Fury and

Michael Hunter are on the fringes

while ageing drug cheat Alexander

Povetkin returns on July 12.

JOSEPH PARKER

NZ, 27 years old, 25-2 (19)

DERECK CHISORA

England, 35 years old, 30-9 (21)

LUIS ORTIZ

Cuba, 40 years old, 31-1 (26)

BEST OF THE REST

Some others to keep an eye on

LAST FIGHT:

After getting decked in round three

against Joshua he launched himself at

the favourite and scored with a left hook

that turned the fight on its head. The

baby-faced Ruiz went on to score one

of the biggest upsets in boxing history,

dropping Joshua four times, winning the

IBF, WBA and WBO titles, and becoming

an overnight superstar in the process.

NEXT FIGHT:

There was some speculation, considering

Ruiz is under the same Premier Boxing

Champions banner as Wilder, that he

might try and avoid the contracted

Joshua return. But Ruiz is not only keen

on the sequel, he’s positively enthused.

He promises to dish out another beating

at the end of the year.

BEST ATTRIBUTE:

His puppy dog disguise was a useful

attribute for lulling an all-conquering

superstar into a false sense of security

but that won’t work a second time. In

truth, his fast, powerful hands, positioned

by nimble feet, were excellent against

Joshua. His boxing brain, also, was far in

advance of his opponent’s.

WORST ATTRIBUTE:

It might now be self-discipline. There

have been suggestions that he’s struggled

with this in the past, but now he’s rich

and famous, surely the temptation to

indulge will be harder than ever to resist.

His short reach could turn out be a hefty

disadvantage against the wrong opponent.

TRAINER:

Few better trainers to have in the corner

than Manny Robles, whose belief in Ruiz

was clear long before the first bell.

COULD COME UNSTUCK AGAINST:

Anyone, frankly. In the same way that

Joshua didn’t turn into a bad fighter

overnight, Ruiz did not become an

invincible one. Even so, he is dangerous,

and has every chance of beating ‘AJ’ again.

HALL OF FAME BOUND?

He’ll need more than one massive upset

victory, just ask Buster Douglas.

ANDY RUIZ JNR

USA/Mexico, 29 years old, 33-1 (22)