Eddie Hearn calls Joshua ‘reckless’ and ‘inexperienced’ during Ruiz Jr defeat
EDDIE HEARN admitted Anthony Joshua paid the price for “recklessly” trying to finish the fight against Andy Ruiz Jr before a shock seventh round stoppage loss.
Brit superstar Joshua, 29, was stunned on Saturday night when 25/1 underdog Ruiz, also 29, rose from a third round knockdown to twice floor AJ himself.
As Joshua decked 19stone Ruiz he rushed in looking for the finish, only to be out punched and wobbled by a left-hook that caused him to fall and subsequently never recover.
Ruiz would systematically break down the champion with body shots and fast hands before dropping Joshua twice in round seven as the fight was halted and the massive upset completed.
Promoter Hearn told BBC a more “experienced” Joshua could have forced the finish in round three but a lack of composure saw the 2012 Olympic gold medallist squander his opportunity.
Hearn said: “He had Ruiz in desperate trouble, went in to finish him recklessly and got caught by a shot on the top of the head that he never recovered from.
“I don’t think he really knows a lot about the fight after the third round. Despite the fact that he kept getting up, I think he was concussed, I think he never recovered.
“If he was composed and a little bit more experienced I think he’d have taken him out in the third round but he paid a terrible price.
“The referee asked him if he wanted to continue, he said “yes”. He asked him if he was alright to continue, he said “yes”.
“Unfortunately what he didn’t do was put his hands up because he was trying to hold onto the ropes to stand up. He would never quit.
“He kept getting up and up and would have done it all night until he was unconscious. Andy Ruiz deserves all the credit in the world.”
After the shock loss Hearn hinted Joshua would get his shot at redemption in November or December with a rematch in the UK.
A win for AJ in the rematch makes him a “bigger star” than he already was, according to his promoter.
Hearn said: “Now the next chapter is, can he return? Can he win back his belts in what will be a much anticipated rematch?
“If AJ bounces back and defeats Ruiz in a rematch, he’s a bigger star than he was prior to [Saturday] night.
“The rematch is so important to his career, we went to Ruiz’s country so I expect the next one to take place in the UK.”
