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Anthony Joshua Addresses Rumours He Had A Panic Attack Before Shock Defeat To Andy Ruiz Jr

Anthony Joshua Addresses Rumours He Had A Panic Attack Before Shock Defeat To Andy Ruiz Jr

He's hit back at claims he had a panic attack before heading to the ring at Madison Square Garden

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar

Anthony Joshua has addressed rumours that he had a panic attack before his defeat against Andy Ruiz Jr in New York.

Following Joshua's defeat to Ruiz Jr at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, rumours surfaced claiming he suffered a panic attack moments before walking out to the ring.

His promoter Eddie Hearn denied the speculation over his mental health and the man himself has now hit back at claims he had a panic attack.

"The whole training camp team pulled together," he said.

"I started my camp in Sheffield, worked there for six or seven weeks; then came to New York for the press tour. There were a lot of issues with Jarrell Miller (who tested positive for three banned substances), [Luis] Ortiz pulling out, and Ruiz stepping in, but it all makes for the drama show, the entertainment of heavyweight boxing. I went to Miami where the set up was spot on.

"There are lot of accusations and worries about what went wrong with me but I'm a solider and I have to take my ups and downs.

"I had no panic attack, I'm not that type of person. I have to take my loss like a man, I'm not blaming any man or any thing. I went in there to perform and my performance didn't go to plan, my game plan didn't go to plan.

"On Saturday I took a loss and I have to take it like a man. Never let success go to your head, and never let your failures get to your heart.

"It's tough, when you lose sometimes it feels like it rips away a part of you, but I'm not going to change anything, I'm still ambitious and I'm still going to walk with my head held high like a champion.

"Losing isn't in anyone's nature and I took my first loss. It hasn't really changed me or my work ethic, the people I'm loyal to, my trainer, my amateur coach, I still want to work with these guys.

"They've done a great job for me not just inside the ring but mainly outside; they've developed me as a human and as a person. These guys have been with me for years, I'm not going to change my ways, I'm the same old Anthony Joshua. I have the same motivation to better myself through boxing."

Image: PA
Image: PA

Joshua is set to rematch Ruiz Jr after his team triggered the contracted rematch clause.

Will 'AJ' reclaim his heavyweight world titles? Let us know what you think.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Boxing News, Andy Ruiz Jr, Anthony Joshua, Boxing, Heavyweight, Eddie Hearn, Fight News

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado, and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Darren Till, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

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