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The Heavyweight Champion With an Imperfect Body
WSJ ^ | 2 June 2019 | Jim Chairusmi

Posted on 06/02/2019 9:01:11 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT

As boxer Andy Ruiz Jr. prepared to step on the scale during the weigh-in Friday afternoon for his bout against U.K. heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, he heard a taunting chant from Joshua’s rowdy British fans: “Who are ya? You fat bastard!”

The flabby Ruiz, who is listed as 6-foot-2, smiled and flexed his biceps as he tipped the scales at 268 pounds.

Ruiz’s dream, of course, was to win the heavyweight title, which he pulled off in shocking fashion, stopping Joshua via a seventh-round technical knockout on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden that instantly stands as one of boxing’s greatest upsets ever.

Ruiz, who habitually eats a candy bar before his fights and joked that he was hopeful for a Snickers deal, was facing an opponent in Joshua, who has a chiseled physique that resembles the Incredible Hulk.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Food; Sports
KEYWORDS: tatbastard
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To: dp0622

[[I gained TWENTY pounds and went from 200 to 220 when I was boxing and it felt like a TON.]]

They tell me the body is a majority of water, so I’m not fat, I’m simply flooded


41 posted on 06/02/2019 11:06:36 AM PDT by Bob434
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To: LS

Picture a cartoon Wiley Coyote, after the Anvil in dropped on his head. “I see stars, I hear birds tweeting!”


42 posted on 06/02/2019 11:12:16 AM PDT by lee martell
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To: Redwood71

how in the world could he even eat those? I know he’s big, but that sandwich is a monster- I’d have to eat it with fork and knife- it just wouldn’t stay together trying to eat it like normal sandwhich- and the amount of food in just one of those- forget 2- is enough for 3 meals for me


43 posted on 06/02/2019 11:12:18 AM PDT by Bob434
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To: DUMBGRUNT

How boxing has fallen.

It used to be the heavyweight champ was a household name.


44 posted on 06/02/2019 11:13:11 AM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: Bob434

Funny water comment :)

And I believe the never ending bout story.

I WISH there was an early bare knuckle fight video but the best I’ve found is pictures.

I am in favor of 12 rounds. It’s bad enough the effect it has on the head.

And even if it takes THREE rounds to figure out your opponent and another TWO to adjust, there’s still 7 more rounds to do your thing.

15 is kind of overkill, pun intended :)


45 posted on 06/02/2019 11:13:12 AM PDT by dp0622 (The Left should know if Trump is kicked out of office, it is WAR!)
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To: freedumb2003

love watching him fight- awkward as all get out- but a pretty powerful puncher when he connects good- Saw him on the show jackass- where he KO’d johhny whatshisname- inside a store- it was pretty funny- johhny was out like a light briefly-


46 posted on 06/02/2019 11:15:02 AM PDT by Bob434
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To: DUMBGRUNT

As one who has fought a bit Boys Club boxing and sparring with my Kevin Greene slash Jack Lambert sized dad I can attest that heart beats muscles and ripped chest any day

Joshua is right

I’ve seen all chest super ripped black guys with no legs deliver fast but soft punches and go down hard when you got em

But they looked fearsome all ripped and gargoyle looking beforehand

My best friend i eulogized here two years ago

http://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3576161/posts?page=102

He was like a Monty Python satire....no matter how bloodied and torn up he’d drag himself up usually intoxicated on something and just keep on till onlookers held him down as his opponent begged him to stay down

If he’d only had the natural tools

I’ve fought a dozen or so times as an adult till aged 48 given places I’ve lived and environments I’ve been in

If someone is coming for you and ain’t talking and fist balled up

Get ready

People who talk shite don’t want to fight or they want help


47 posted on 06/02/2019 11:23:43 AM PDT by wardaddy (I applaud Jim Robinson for his comments on the Southern Monuments decision ...thank you)
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To: Theoria

Thanks.


48 posted on 06/02/2019 11:39:57 AM PDT by HotHunt (Been there. Done that.)
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To: dp0622

[[I WISH there was an early bare knuckle fight video but the best I’ve found is pictures.]]

There is- I remember seeing one on YouTube- the boxer was a giant compared to his opponent- can’t for the life of me remember who they were- it was a brutal fight-

I liked the 15 rounds0- but yes- I agree- it was too much for boxers- lots of boxers got ‘punch drunk’ and suffered because of it- I think 12 is about right- in terms of beign safer-

I was fortunate- I grew up when the greats were fighting- mohammad- frazier, leanard, foreman, boom boom mancini- and many many other great fighters etc- would wait anxiously for forever it seemed for the fights to come on in one of the 4 channels we got lol- and it was quite an event watching- loved listenign to howard cossell too- many fond memories-


49 posted on 06/02/2019 11:40:17 AM PDT by Bob434
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To: dp0622
“It’s an EXHAUSTING sport and it’s very likely his opponent just wasn’t that good, I dont care where he is ranked.”

Agree entirely. Just hitting a heavy bag for 3 minutes can wind you - and it doesn't hit back. That said, once in awhile you'll find some guy who just has incredible stamina - irrespective of weight etc. Also, there are people who are chiseled, but run out of gas quickly. Mostly though, you're spot on.

50 posted on 06/02/2019 11:44:48 AM PDT by neverevergiveup
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To: Bob434

I just missed those.

I was born in 1968 and saw Some of them but didn’t really get excited about boxing until maybe 15.

That was 1983 and later on I would enjoy Morrison (who they NOW think had HIV LONG before he admitted it), Foreman’s comback, Evander and Tysen. Later on Lewis and the Klitchko brothers.

But the era you are talking about was the golden age.


51 posted on 06/02/2019 11:45:02 AM PDT by dp0622 (The Left should know if Trump is kicked out of office, it is WAR!)
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To: neverevergiveup

Agreed across the board.


52 posted on 06/02/2019 11:46:10 AM PDT by dp0622 (The Left should know if Trump is kicked out of office, it is WAR!)
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To: TexasGator
".... It’s a signed photo...."

Big deal. I still don't know who it is. I can't read it.

53 posted on 06/02/2019 11:46:30 AM PDT by HotHunt (Been there. Done that.)
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To: TexasGator
".... It’s a signed photo...."

Big deal. I still don't know who it is. I can't read it.

54 posted on 06/02/2019 11:46:40 AM PDT by HotHunt (Been there. Done that.)
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To: deport

Thanks.


55 posted on 06/02/2019 11:47:59 AM PDT by HotHunt (Been there. Done that.)
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To: HotHunt
Oops!

Double-tapped it.

56 posted on 06/02/2019 11:52:50 AM PDT by HotHunt (Been there. Done that.)
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To: dp0622

I forgot morrison- He was a phenominal fighter- such a sad case- his son, who looks a lot like him- uis now fighting- and has a little of the power his dad had- and a very similar style- hope he makes it- loved watchin tommy’s fights- great great fighter- had the world by the tail-


57 posted on 06/02/2019 11:53:43 AM PDT by Bob434
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To: Bob434

I didnt know about the son. Will check it out.

Morrison was HORRIBLY abused growing up.

He WOULD HAVE been champ but the HIV maybe have been MANY, MANY years earlier than people thought and it showed in his decline relatively early.


58 posted on 06/02/2019 11:56:07 AM PDT by dp0622 (The Left should know if Trump is kicked out of office, it is WAR!)
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To: neverevergiveup

[[That said, once in awhile you’ll find some guy who just has incredible stamina - irrespective of weight etc]]

Forman was one of those- he’d go 12 rounds and be a little tired- but always pushing forward- and still very dangerous- larry holmes was a big guy too- and very dangerous at all times- they knew how to pace themselves and let the other folks burn out first- both could take a beating, and then turn on the power to end the fights-


59 posted on 06/02/2019 11:56:52 AM PDT by Bob434
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To: Bob434
".... so I’m not fat, I’m simply flooded...."

LOL! Now that's funny.

I'm going to use that line the next time my sweet wife says I've gained weight.

60 posted on 06/02/2019 11:57:21 AM PDT by HotHunt (Been there. Done that.)
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