FALLEN HERO
Anthony Joshua’s career in peril after humiliating defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in seventh round in New York
ANTHONY Joshua’s world has been turned upside down after a devastating and humiliating shock defeat to no-hoper Andy Ruiz Jr in New York.
The Brit heavyweight suffered the first defeat of his professional career – and handed over his IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles on a disastrous night at New York's Madison Square Garden.
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Joshua had established himself as the world's leading heavyweight by retiring legendary heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in 2017.
But the shock defeat to the 25/1 underdog Ruiz on Saturday night leaves him facing a battle to rebuild his battered reputation.
ONE OF BOXING'S BIGGEST SHOCKS
In one of the most stunning upsets in heavyweight boxing history, Joshua lost his hard-earned world titles to the man who took the fight at just five weeks’ notice, having replaced Jarrell Miller after his failed drugs tests.
Joshua was thumped to the canvas FOUR times, spitting out his gumshield and holding himself upright on the ropes.
Joshua even asked his corner man "Why am I feeling like this?" during the catastrophic defeat.
No one gave the overweight Ruiz a chance, but despite looking out of shape the Mexican-American dominated the fight before it was stopped in the seventh round.
One shot hit me on the top of the dome and rattled me a bit. I tried to stay in there a few more rounds but the better man won.
Anthony Joshua after the fight
Now the 6ft 6in former Olympic champion from Watford faces missing out on lucrative clashes with fellow Brit Tyson Fury and America's WBC champ Deontay Wilder worth millions.
Joshua insisted he will bounce back.
After the fight he said: “It's an upset, it's unexpected. I was the favourite.
"One shot hit me on the top of the dome and rattled me a bit. I tried to stay in there a few more rounds but the better man won.
"I don't underestimate anyone. He's a decent puncher, a decent fighter. He was the better man.
"I'll tidy up, brush off the cobwebs and go again. But it's a minor setback.
"Trust me, where I was at in life, I've dealt with more s*** than this, with some real big losses, and bounced back.
"If I was to look at my setbacks back then then I would have been f*****. I didn't. I kept my head strong, fought like a champion, and bounced back.”
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Anthony Joshua contemplates his next move in his post match press conference following his defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr
It later emerged Joshua had been concussed during the fight.
Fans expect there will be a rematch at Wembley in December but Joshua admitted he didn’t know if a rematch clause had been included in the fight contract.
He said: “I didn't even ask about a rematch clause because I was so confident I was going to win. If it's there, we'll go again and I'll get the titles back. I'm going to beat him up.”
His promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed however that a rematch was on the cards.
WHAT NEXT FOR JOSHUA?
"This will devastate him," said his promoter, Eddie Hearn.
"He will come back. It's now down to the rematch and winning that fight.
"He must win that fight and he will do anything he can to regain his title.
"To get back to the heights he has been, he must win that rematch."
lastest from Joshua vs Ruiz
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Andy Ruiz Jr reacts to his historic victory over Anthony Joshua in a post match press conference
The defeat is the first major setback of Joshua’s glittering career.
He has built a £35million fortune since turning professional in 2013 a year after winning the Olympic gold medal at the London Games at super-heavyweight.
Joshua won his first world title when he beat Denis Bakhtov in 2014 but it wasn’t until his memorable clash with Klitschko in April 2017 at Wembley that he became a national hero.
ROUND ACTION
Round One
An expected cagey start, but Ruiz Jr landed cleaner and probably sneaked it.
Round Two
Joshua evened it up but his head and foot movement wasn't too impressive.
Round Three
Ruiz floored and people in the crowd expected the finish. But the Mexican bit down and ended up spectacularly dropping Joshua twice.
Round Four
Joshua was all over the place and his legs looked as though they still hadn't recovered from the knockdowns.
Round Five
Only five rounds in and AJ appeared out on his feet. Tellingly asked his corner what round it is at the end.
Round Six
Many in the crowd could now sense that one of boxing's biggest ever upsets could be on. AJ asked corner why he doesn't feel good as he slumped to his stool.
Round Seven
The unbelievable became reality. Ruiz floored Joshua to make it four in total before the referee waves it off as the dethroned champ slumped onto the ropes.
That fight propelled him on to the world stage, and he had won his three subsequent fights to confirm his place as the best heavyweight in the world before his defeat to Ruiz.
But with Wilder and Fury – both of whom are still unbeaten – as leading rivals, it was expected Joshua would breeze past Ruiz to set up a three-way showdown to decide who is be best in the world.
Those multi-million pound plans are now in disarray after boxing’s biggest shock since Buster Douglas KO’d Mike Tyson in 1990.
After the fight, a chastened Joshua revealed he had also already spoken to his mother Yeta Odusanya, and his father Robert, who had given him some advice.
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"My dad's upset, which is a natural reaction; my mum's cool, she doesn't come to the boxing and separates it," he said.
Despite being worth £35million and living a life of luxury, Joshua is so humble that he still lives in an ex-council house with his mum - and gets everything from his luxury holidays to his clothes for free.
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The boxing star also uses a humble two-bed flat in Sheffield when he is in training, which features a master bedroom with a single bed, worn out sofas in the living room and just one communal bathroom.
The challenge now for Joshua is to bounce back a better fighter.
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His next fight is likely to be a rematch with Ruiz in November or December.
Joshua insisted he will return to reclaim his belts, and then face either Wilder or Fury.
He said: "I am still focused, it is a minor setback, I took a loss but I take it on the chin like a real man.
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"No crying and no emotions.
"I will look at all my next options and potentially getting all them belts back ASAP, potentially here again in New York or in London, the options are still open.
"If the journey was ending today I would be upset but I know I still have a lot of things to look forward to in the future.
"In my heart I still want to fight everyone and the rematch is important because the belts give me leverage but I still want to beat the likes of Wilder and Fury."
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