![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/eddie-hearn-insists-anthony-joshua-would-hate-him-if-he-revealed-real-reasons-he-lost-to-andy-ruiz-jr/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SPORT-PREVIEW-AJ-Hearn.jpg&description=GLOVE & HATE RELATIONSHIP Published : 17:12, 10 Aug 2023 Updated : 17:13, 10 Aug 2023 ANTHONY JOSHUA would "hate" Eddie Hearn if the promoter revealed the real reasons he underperformed in his loss against Andy Ruiz Jr. AJ, who returns to the ring on Saturday aiming to knock out Robert Helenius , suffered the first defeat of his career when he came up against 25/1 underdog Andy Ruiz Jr in New York back in 2019. 1 Hearn admits Joshua had his reasons for coming into the fight sluggish and off his game The British star was left battered and bruised after he was knocked to the canvas four times by the hard-hitting Mexican before he went on to beat him in the rematch. Joshua was then outpointed by Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before he suffered a repeat in August . But it was that defeat to Ruiz JR that is surrounded in mystery as AJ was dropped four times with many wondering what happened to the star pre and post fight amid rumours suggesting the heavyweight was concussed. Joshua was forced to deny being dropped in sparring and even refute claims he had a panic attack before the headliner on his US debut in New York. But Hearn previously admitted that Joshua had his reasons for coming into the fight sluggish and off his game but insisted that those excuses will not be aired. Hearn told Sky Sports : "It's nothing to do with sparring or panic attacks but there are reasons that he wasn't firing on all cylinders. He will never tell you, and he would hate for me to tell you. "He doesn't want excuses like we've seen with Deontay Wilder. "When I look back now, knowing what was wrong, I can look at his face and say: 'You knew you weren't 100 per cent, didn't you?'. "But all week he was fine, smiling. At no point did anyone say, 'He doesn't seem himself'. Looking back now there is something in his eyes that says, 'I'm not best prepared'." Joshua stayed silent after his setback, but came out triumphant six months later as he enacted revenge on Ruiz in Sa){kind=link}
ANTHONY JOSHUA would “hate” Eddie Hearn if the promoter revealed the real reasons he underperformed in his loss against Andy Ruiz Jr.
AJ, who returns to the ring on Saturday aiming to knock out Robert Helenius, suffered the first defeat of his career when he came up against 25/1 underdog Andy Ruiz Jr in New York back in 2019.
The British star was left battered and bruised after he was knocked to the canvas four times by the hard-hitting Mexican before he went on to beat him in the rematch.
Joshua was then outpointed by Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before he suffered a repeat in August.
But it was that defeat to Ruiz JR that is surrounded in mystery as AJ was dropped four times with many wondering what happened to the star pre and post fight amid rumours suggesting the heavyweight was concussed.