Anthony Joshua ‘doesn’t remember anything’ from third round of Andy Ruiz Jr fight, reveals Eddie Hearn
ANTHONY JOSHUA does not “remember anything” from after his third round knockdown in his defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr, says promoter Eddie Hearn.
The 29-year-old Brit lost his three world titles in one of the world’s biggest ever heavyweight upsets against the relatively unknown Mexican.
The referee eventually stopped the fight in the seventh round after the Olympic 2012 champion took a beating and was floored four times.
Joshua‘s promotor Hearn said: “He doesn’t remember anything really from the third round.
“In fact, he’s taken a little positivity that he managed to go four rounds after that because he says, ‘you know, my senses weren’t there’.”
Hearn, who activated a rematch clause which will see the two fighters meet in either November or December, was speaking to American broadcaster DAZN.
He admitted he was relieved that the ref did halt the fight in New York’s Madison Square Garden to avoid serious damage for Joshua.
It was his first professional loss.
Hearn said: “100 per cent right stoppage.
“If you actually watch it back, we were watching it last night, and Anthony says ‘yes’ and goes to walk forward, and the ref just nudges him and he goes back on the ropes, and then the ref stops it.
“I’m actually glad he did cause Anthony would have kept going all night.”
The promoter has also claimed his man was “too over confident” ahead of his clash with the roly-poly Ruiz.
And Hearn has admitted that AJ will be under huge pressure in the rematch as another defeat will leave his entire career in jeopardy.
He said: “There’s so much pressure on the rematch as if he loses that second fight, then his careers not in a great place.”
It has not yet been decided where the rematch will take place with Ruiz demanding £40million to fight in Britain.
He would prefer the clash to be in his home country, Mexico.
Ruiz only took the fight against Joshua at short notice when the scheduled opponent pulled out.
