The world of boxing witness one of the major upsets in boxing match, when much underrated boxer the Mexican-American Andy Ruiz Jr defeated Anthony Joshua in Madison square New York. They settled for rematch which Anthony Joshua came out victorious, with outstanding performance.
Anthony Joshua retain his titles again, after an interesting match in Saudi Arabia Diriya, a stadium specially built for the most anticipated boxing match in the history. The fight was termed ‘Clash of the Dunes’ it is exciting moment to watch in boxing history.
Anthony Joshua was heavily criticized after his defeat in June, some started to doubt his credibility as former world champion, until he retained his titles again. He promised to reveal where it when wrong if he wins the rematch, which he eventually did.
“I had some issue with my health which I was going through for a long time,” Joshua said
The Briton added: “I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I felt so tired and drained and thought it must be down to training.
“In the changing room before the fight I got a bucket of ice and was putting my head in it thinking ‘why do I feel so tired?’
“The responsibilities of being world champion are difficult. All that stuff, feeling so tired, dealing with obligations.
“Now I have energy, I haven’t missed a session.”
He added: “After my check-ups it showed what the problem was and this is what you have to get sorted.
“Even in this camp I had an operation done but as I’d started training in June I had no issues.”
Joshua refused to say what the operation was but it is understood the procedure he had was linked to the issue diagnosed after his defeat by Ruiz.
Joshua is now expected to face either the WBO’s mandatory challenger – currently Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk – or the man in the same position with the IBF, Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev.
He said he was no longer interested in calling out WBC champion Deontay Wilder for a historic bout with all four world heavyweight titles on the line
Chasing a contest with compatriot Tyson Fury was also dismissed as Joshua said he hoped to focus on one “hurdle” at a time.
“Looking so far ahead it can be a blurry vision looking that far out,” Joshua told BBC Sport.
“Sooner or later I will be looking directly at the undisputed championship of the world.
“If the opportunity presents itself I will fight Wilder and Fury. Wilder has a fight with Fury in February. Once that is out of the way they can start mentioning my name.
“I can’t keep on fighting all the champions, the best in the division and then other people who say they want to step up don’t step up.
“All challengers are welcome to take on this current unified champion.”
Joshua said to defend his belts “on home soil would be big news” after promoter Eddie Hearn revealed he had been in discussions over a fight at Tottenham’s new 60,000-capacity stadium, most likely against Pulev.
“It would be mega,” Joshua added. “Looking at how many people came out here shows there is still a big interest in the heavyweight division, especially now we are taking the belts back.
“Sometimes it would be better against a Brit, but if not I follow the mandatories and defend them that way.”
