12-08-2016, 01:33 PM
(12-02-2016, 09:47 AM)bopman Wrote: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tvHGfFmg9v0
Fighting Chance doco
Parker vs ruiz
Good doco ... nice insights into Joseph.. what a great kid!
When I first heard of this match up for the WBO Title I couldn't believe how fortunate Team Parker were that things had unfolded this way.. reckoning that this was by far the easiest path to gaining a version of the title. No Champ involved, instead fighting off with a short chubby Mexican ranked much lower than Joseph - at home! You couldn't dream of an easier title path..
But as the weeks have rolled by I have taken time to watch several of Ruiz's fights and despite his obvious issues with weight and conditioning I have been impressed with his skill set. Ruiz can Box. He slips, blocks and covers up very well, counters with combos and boxes with a high tempo off the front foot.. and is fast! Mmm... I'm thinking.. this is not going to be so straight forward.
Team Parker are glowing. Their smiles are a mile wide and they are very confident that Joe will deliver the goods. I hope they are right! A lot of things have changed since we last saw Joe.. First off, he's now a Dad! Has a new mental skills coach, a new conditioning coach and regime, is cryogenically recovering from his workouts, has found an inner beast mode that he can call on in the ring (..sigh) but, the most significant change is in the way Joseph is fronting the media for this fight.. He is relaxed, confident, destined.. And boy, has Parker been dragged out and about over the past week.. every media opportunity must be taken it seems.. I truly hope his improved outward manner is borne from the confidence of an improved skill set.
The influence and impact of the coaches in this event cannot be underestimated as they both try to conjure a winning strategy. Barry and Sanchez are akin to chess masters.. Put all the hype aside regarding who is the fastest and who hits the hardest 'cos really the scales are evenly matched in this regard.. this is a boxing bout and the lad that boxes the best will win the fight. Strategy and skills are everything!
So, can KB package a fight plan to win the title and more importantly can Joseph follow the script? I hope it reads something like this... Joseph must box off the jab and manifest some mobility to guarantee victory.. keep Ruiz at bay with stiff punishing jabs whilst boxing on his toes, regularly changing direction, unloading quick combos when the opportunity arises... then, back to the safety of the jab and mobility. If Ruiz gets tagged - Joe will sniff blood and finish the job swiftly! Don't hunt the KO, box and it will come.. Box, box and move.
Abel Sanchez is an adept coach. From the very beginning, when this fight was first sanctioned, Sanchez has confidently stated that Ruiz has the edge when it comes to skills.. don't
underestimate this man when he makes a point like this. That said, Ruiz is the clear cut underdog. He loses the tale of the tape by a margin, is boxing away from home, is ranked lower
than Joe and has be given an enormous task to rapidly get into shape for this fight. Ruiz is deceptively quick and counters very well. Sanchez will have him pressuring Joe from the opening bell with a view to forcing Joe to lift his head and drop his shoulders as he struggles to manage the assault..
Crafting a winning strategy is one thing but, having the skill set required to pull it off is another!
When it comes to Joseph, readers here will know that I have long considered him to be light on the fundamental basics and skills.. Can he box on his toes, dominate with the jab, move and remain composed? Granted, Parker can bang with the best of them but, I have yet to see any evidence that Joseph can box clever. And that is what he must do to win this fight. Has Parker righted the wrongs from the Takam fight? He was woeful against Haumono and sold short by a gutless Dimitrenko.. so, we don't really know and I have my doubts.
Now that Ruiz has landed and I've seen him shape up it's obvious that the kid is ready. The benefits of altitude training are undeniable and will certainly serve his cause, which will be to hunt Parker down, aggressively, to slip and bomb right hands onto Parker's high head..
I really hope the team have polished Parker's game and developed the goods to take this out but, contrary to most and the Bookies to boot, I think Ruiz will prevail.
If I was a gambling man - Ruiz by TKO!
I agree - this is going to be one hell of a fight - I just hope it lives up to expectations - showcases the best of boxing - and may the best man win!
V.