Anthony Joshua feels like he ‘took a loss for the heavyweight division’ when he lost first fight to Andy Ruiz
Before Anthony Joshua lost to Andy Ruiz Jr in June, he was one of the biggest draws and names in boxing.
He may well still be, but the unbeatable aura he once had dissipated fast after his New York nightmare.
On Saturday in Saudi Arabia, Joshua has the chance to silence his critics and reclaim the multiple world titles he lost to the Mexican-American in Madison Square Garden.
Speaking on the podcast, Joshua said when he lost, he felt his defeat was for all boxing's glamour division because he was the only one with a clean record.
"I feel like I took a loss for the heavyweight division. Because at the time, Wilder – who was always in there – they’d always mentioned my name alongside [him], he’d only taken a draw. He hadn’t taken a loss. [Tyson] Fury – a draw – never a loss.
“[With] Anthony Joshua, clean record. Now I took a loss so it was all eyes on Joshua again.
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“I felt like it was important for me to deal with this like a true champion. In good times and adversity – handle it like a champion.
“I feel the message that I wanted to get across through the bad times is that you can still walk with your chin up and your back high. You should never shy away from these situations and we go again.
“I thought that it would be a big setback but, interestingly, the biggest opportunity came out of this. Going to Saudi, creating history, another defining moment," Joshua said.
Joshua is set for a British record payday as he challenges for the titles he lost in June, but all the right signals have come out of his camp that he is laser focused on the task at hand.
He's in leaner shape and clearly has a gameplan for how to take Ruiz Jr down this time.