Anthony Joshua reveals mystery behind his shocking defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019

Two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua tasted his first career defeat at the hands of Mexican heavyweight boxer Andy Ruiz Jr in what was one of the biggest upsets in the history of boxing.

Ruiz shocked the entire globe with his seventh-round technical knockout against Joshua at the Madison Square Gardens in July 2019.

Joshua, 33, in a recent engagement with the press, blamed his first career defeat to the Mexican on health issues he was battling at the time.

“You can watch as much as you want but until you face me you never know, the 33-year-old said during his press conference to promote his fight with American heavyweight boxer Jermaine Franklin

“I had some issues with my health which I was going through for a long time. 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 a world champion are difficult. All that stuff, feeling so tired, dealing with obligations.

“After my check-ups, it showed what the problem was, and this is what you have to get sorted.”

Joshua later reclaimed his lost WBO, IBF and WBA heavyweight titles after defeating the Mexican in the rematch in Saudi Arabia.

WDN