Anthony Joshua vows to return and insists shock Andy Ruiz defeat is ‘all part of his legacy’ despite losing his four world title belts
ANTHONY JOSHUA described his shattering first professional boxing defeat as "all part of his legacy".
Making his US debut at the world famous Madison Square Garden, the Brit was on the end of one of the biggest shocks in boxing history.
He was floored four times on the way to being stopped in the seventh round by 25/1 outsider Andy Ruiz Jr to lose all his heavyweight world titles.
But after the fight AJ was magnanimous in defeat, even flashing a broad grin and posing for photos with stunned fans.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Joshua, 29, said: "Boxing is a tough sport, but I train hard and I got beaten by a good fighter.
"It will be interesting to see how far he goes, but this is all part of the journey.
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ROUND ACTION
Round One
Cagey, but Ruiz Jr landed cleaner.
Round Two
Joshua evened it up.
Round Three
Ruiz floored, but came back to drop AJ twice.
Round Four
Joshua all over the place. Ruiz dominant.
Round Five
Joshua looks laboured, asks corner what round it is at end.
Round Six
Shock is well and truly on. AJ asks corner why he doesn't feel good.
Round Seven
It's waved off after Joshua dropped twice. Stunning.
"Congratulations to the first Mexican heavyweight champion. We bounce back.
"I'm a fighter by heart, boxer by trade, it has got people talking and there's more life in the heavyweight division.
"This is the risk we take, every fighter deserves respect so congratulations to him.
"I respect every fighter, this is all part of the legacy, it's how strong I came back.
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"He's a champion for now, I shall return."
The result ranks alongside 33/1 shot Buster Douglas' stunning KO victory against Mike Tyson back in 1990 which stunned the boxing world.
California-based Ruiz, 29, took the fight on short notice, after a handful of dimwitted potential rivals turned it down, and pulled off the most amazing of upsets.
CARD MADNESS
One judge had Anthony Joshua AHEAD after six rounds before he was brutally beaten by Andy Ruiz Jr.
Ruiz was bossing the fight and had the better of Joshua for the majority.
But while Michael Alexander and Julie Lederman both had Ruiz 57-56 ahead on their scorecards after six rounds, Pasquale Procopio somehow had the Watford man 57-56 UP.
Procopio had AJ down as winning the first, second, fourth and fifth rounds.
According to Procopio, Ruiz had only won the third - by a score of 10-8 following the two knockdowns for AJ - and sixth.
