Anthony Joshua has addressed rumors surrounding his loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. and says nothing untoward took place in camp or on fight night.
WBN was informed of a sparring incident involving Joey Dawejko in Miami, although Joshua refused to lay any blame on his time out there.
In regards to a panic attack potentially suffered in the dressing room, something which has been attributed to Joshua’s strange demeanor in the ring, the Briton said he wants to take the defeat to Ruiz on the chin.
“The whole training camp team pulled together and did a great job,” said Joshua.
“I started my camp off in Sheffield. I was working there for about six, seven weeks. Then I came to New York. to continue my press tour.
“There were a lot of issues going on with this fight. With Jarrell Miller, (Luis) Ortiz pulling out. (Andy) Ruiz stepping in. But it all makes for the drama show, the entertainment of heavyweight boxing.
“I’ve traveled here, do my press conference and then I’ve traveled to Miami. The set-up was spot on. I didn’t go out. I was spotted out for lunch one day. The other days the chef was cooking, eating in house and so on and so forth. There was no contaminated food.
“I know there’s a lot of accusations about what was wrong with me, but I want to tell you this: I’m a soldier and I have to take my ups and my downs.”
HEAD and HEART
Adding further on the damaging knockout, Joshua said: “On Saturday, I took a loss and I have to take it like a man.
“One of my sayings is, ‘never let success go to your head and never let your failures get to your heart’.
“It’s all about keeping a balance and moving forward. That’s the mindset I have to keep.
“It’s tough. When you lose sometimes It feels like it rips away a part of you,” continued Joshua. “But I’m never going to change. I’m still the same old me.
“I’m still ambitious and I’m going to walk around with my head held high like a champion. Because boxing is part of my life and I’m a champion at heart. I’ll apply and adapt that in the ring.”
