Anthony Joshua must ‘think about his career’ if he loses Andy Ruiz Jr rematch, admits concerned Eddie Hearn
ANTHONY JOSHUA has been warned his rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr is "no foregone conclusion" and been told to think long and hard about his career.
AJ's promoter Eddie Hearn says the former world champ's entire career will be on the line but "not over" should he suffer a second loss to the Snickers-chomping Mexican.
The 29-year-old suffered a first professional defeat when he lost his WBA, WBO and IBF crowns to the under-rated burritos-guzzler.
Hearn triggered a rematch clause which is set to take place in New York's Madison Square Garden in either November or December.
The promoter, who revealed AJ suffered memory loss in the first fight, warned: "There's so much pressure on the rematch, as if he loses that second fight then his career is not in a great place.
There's so much pressure on the rematch, as if he loses that second fight then his career is not in a great place
"At the moment, he's lost his world title belts and he's got a chance to win them back.
"If he was to lose that second fight, it's not career-ending but it starts to make you think about your career - and that's long before we expect that moment to happen."
Joshua was poleaxed FOUR times as huge underdog Ruiz Jr pulled off one of boxing's greatest upsets.
The new champ is demanding the fight takes place in California or Mexico.
JOSHUA'S CAREER IS ON THE LINE
Many experts thought the 2012 Olympic champ underestimated his roly-poly opponent but Hearn has said Joshua must be fully focused for the rematch - with his career on the line.
He told the BBC: "The rematch is by no means a forgone conclusion.
"Ruiz's confidence is going to go through the roof; AJ's confidence probably isn't going to be the same.
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"I think he was probably too overconfident.
"What we saw was one of the biggest heavyweight shocks of all time.
"But we also saw an amazing fight, and now it's down to Anthony."