Friends were ready to stab me when I lost to Andy Ruiz - Anthony Joshua

Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Anthony Joshua has said that some of his friends were ready to stab him in the back after he lost his title to Andy Ruiz last year.

Joshua regained the titles by defeating Ruiz in a second bout which took place last December in Saudi Arabia.

Recounting the loss he suffered which saw his unbeaten heavyweight aura end, Joshua told DAZN: "I had my own issues going on, that I said I would explain one day. So I just took my loss like a man.

"But what I found is that a lot of my industry friends that were smiling in my face were ready to stab me in the back when I took my loss."

With Ruiz calling for a third bout, Joshua stated that the second which he won was a one-sided fight.

He said: "It was a one-sided fight. A classic display of the sweet science of hit and don't get hit.

"Take the belt with ease and get back on the gravy train.

"Andy couldn't keep up, he couldn't move his feet, couldn't throw his hands fast enough to keep up with me.

"I think I won 11 out of 12 rounds if I was to be generous. I made history."