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This is actually a good fight card despite the change of opponent.
After Miller got busted with PED cocktail, Andy Ruiz was the opponent finally settled on for Joshua. The intrigue here is that Joshua's only officially gone the distance with one opponent (Joseph Parker). That's an opponent he has in common with Andy Ruiz who also went the distance with him. Some even argue that Ruiz won the fight, as it was in Parker's backyard. People talk about Ruiz' chubby build and all (he always has a Snicker bar and is working on a sponsorship deal with them), but I don't care about that. His real issue is that he's 4 inches shorter. But he does have quick hands. I expect Joshua to win, but I don't know how easy it'll be for him.
The biggest fight on this card imo is Katie Taylor vs Delfine Persoon for the undisputed Lightweight. The winner here will be only the 3rd undisputed boxer in the history of women's boxing and the 2nd one to become undisputed in this very year (Claressa Shields did it on April 13th). Taylor is considered the golden child here. There's been a documentary on his life, she's a devout Christian, she won a gold medal in the olympics, and she's a helluva boxer of course. She undefeated while Persoon only has one loss in 44 fights, but she hasn't lost in 9 years. The one fight she lost, she'd just gotten out of the hosptial earlier that day. Katie's quick on her feet and has fast hands. She's likes to dart in and out. I'm not fond of the way she likes to hold when her opponents start landing punches tho. Which the speed of her feet, you don't see her hold super often like a Christina Hammer, but I've noticed the clinching when she isn't in complete control. Persoon seems pretty telegraphed with her shots, but she hits pretty hard and has alotta fight in her. Taylor has long said Persoon would be her toughest fight, so we'll see. Persoon's never fought outside of her home of Belgium while Taylor has always had to fight away from home, because Ireland won't hold boxing matches or something?
Another fight I'm looking forward to on this card is Josh Kelly vs Ray Robinson. Welterweight Matchup. They're resurrecting Ray Robinson via hologram for a pioneering, historical matchup.... Just kidding. This kid Josh Kelly seems to think he's Roy Jones Jr, fighting with his hands low and trying to depend on reflexes, but he's doesn't have that RJJ skill level. He's fun to watch tho, because that shit don't be working sometimes lol. Robinson isn't the best, but he was in the olympics with Terence Crawford and is kind of a gatekeeper. Gonna be interesting to see how Kelly performs in this step-up bout outside of the UK against an American gatekeeper.
The other fight here is Callum Smith vs Hassan N'Dam. This is a dumb fight for N'Dam. He's 35 and has fought most of his career at middleweight. He just moved up to Super middleweight in his last fight after getting KO'd in his previous fight at middleweight. Callum Smith is a huge puncher who retired George Groves with a 7th round KO recently, so this is just a showcase fight. Expect a stoppage.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Days like this I miss Sha Mecca
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