Anthony Joshua lost to Ruiz Jr because he had no fear of the Mexican brawler, explains Tony Bellew
TONY BELLEW has declared that Anthony Joshua suffered his shock defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr because he didn't fear the 25/1 underdog.
The 29-year-old was dropped four times at Madison Square Garden as referee Mike Griffin waved away the contest in the seventh round.
Joshua had looked on course to win his 23rd consecutive fight in the paid ranks when he floored the Mexican-American in the third round, only to be flattened twice that same round.
Ruiz Jr continued to pound away at the 2012 Olympic gold medallist, ultimate sending AJ to the canvas twice more in the seventh, before Griffin stopped the Brit from receiving further punishment.
The Watford man admitted he was beaten by the better opponent on the night, with Joshua to face Ruiz Jr in a rematch later this year after invoking a clause in their contract.
Speaking ringside, Sky Sports pundit Bellew insisted that his compatriot wasn't bothered at what was coming back at him as he looked to fight fire with fire.
He said: "Let’s all be honest: If he’s facing Deontay Wilder here tonight, is he going to fight like that? Absolutely not, no.
"He’s not is he? He’s going in there with a completely different demeanour, he’s going in there with a completely different set of tactics.
"What’s happened here tonight – I don’t want to say he’s overlooked him – but there’s no fear factor there.
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"He wasn’t bothered about what was coming back at him."
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn slammed Wilder after the bout for kicking Joshua when he's down after the Bronze Bomber mocked his heavyweight rival.
While Tyson Fury showed his class by sending Joshua a message of support, as he told him to "rest up, regroup, recover and come again".