Anthony Joshua details difference between Andy Ruiz Jr and Oleksandr Usyk losses

Joshua has admitted his recent defeat to Usyk hurt more than his previous loss against Ruiz as he had an explanation and was able to immediately seek revenge

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Oleksandr Usyk returns Anthony Joshua’s belts following fight

Anthony Joshua has explained that his recent defeat by Oleksandr Usyk hurt significantly more than his previous loss to Andy Ruiz.

Joshua previously lost his heavyweight titles to Andy Ruiz on his American debut in 2019 before regaining them with victory in their rematch six months later.

He was recently defeated for the second time in his career by Usyk who comfortably outboxed him to snatch the unified titles away for the second time in AJ’s career.

Joshua has now admitted he was 100 per cent fit against Usyk and was beaten by the better fighter, but is motivated to find redemption.

“People have high expectations of me and I have high expectations of myself,” Joshua told Sky Sports. That is why I feel like when I lost the first time I didn’t make any excuses.

“But I had my reason and I always felt cool because I took my loss because I knew I would get it back so I just brushed that one away. But this one hurt because I was at 100%, no problems, everything was cool and I just lost to the better man on the night.

“It gave me motivation to pull myself out of that position where mentally it killed me. I have fought my way back and I will redeem myself.”

Joshua opted to box rather than brawl as he conquered Ruiz at the second time of asking at a mega-money event in Saudi Arabia.

He tried to adopt a similar approach in his mandatory defence against Usyk but was outclassed by a sensational display from his challenger at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Joshua has faced a significant fallout from the event after his tactical approach was questioned by experts who were shocked by his failure to utilise his significant size advantage.

‘AJ’ weighed in a stone heavier than his rival for the tilt and also holds a three-inch height advantage which proved to be no obstacle to his challenger in the end.

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But since his defeat Joshua has shown a bullish defiance and immediately activated his rematch clause in a bid to stage a career-defining second meeting this year.

He has also began a search for a new coach touring America and making a three-man shortlist for the role with his current trainer Rob McCracken expected to work alongside any new arrival.

However Mike Tyson’s former trainer Teddy Atlas believes Joshua “accepted” the defeat too easily and believes the star has earned too much money.

“Joshua, he’s made too much money,” Atlas said during newest episode of his podcast The Fight. “I do [think that]. He accepts defeat too easily, too graciously – I want a good winner and a good loser, don’t get me wrong.

“I believe as much as anybody, if not more than most people, about that, about showing that kind of graciousness whether you win or lose, but he’s too gracious when it comes to it, like a guy that made too much money.”