Anthony Joshua loses his first ever fight as he suffers shock defeat to Mexican upstart Andy Ruiz

NIGERIAN-born world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has suffered the first ever defeat of his boxing career during his US debut when he got beaten my Mexican challenger Andy Ruiz as Madison Square Gardens yesterday.

In an upset that shocked the boxing world, Joshua got knocked to the canvass four times during the course of the fight, forcing the referee to end matters in the seventh round.  In what completely shakes up the heavyweight scene, Joshua loses the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organisation, International Boxing Organisation and International Boxing Federation titles that almost certainly ends his chances of facing either Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder in the near future.

Yesterday, Joshua looked to be on course for a simple victory when he knocked Ruiz down in the third round but the Mexican-American responded in a surprising manner. He got back to his feet are between then and the end of the fight in the seventh round, it was a one-way affair, with Joshua finding it hard to get any rhythm of show any of his usual fluency.

Ruiz said: "They overlooked me, the other guys - Wilder and Fury. We got the win and I'm really happy. Everything is possible, never give up, keep working. We just made history. It's down to the way I look that people under-estimate me."

Joshua added: “Boxing's a tough sport. I trained hard, stayed dedicated. He done well, everyone's come out to a good night of boxing.

"When your legs are all over the gaff you try to stabilise your mind. We put together a strong team and I'm the first to take a loss but we'll bounce back. Congratulations to him, every fighter deserves respect.

"I respect every fighter. This is part of the legacy and story, I look forward to seeing where I went wrong. He's the champ for now. I shall return.”

Before yesterday's shock, the whole world had been looking forward to a massive unification fight between Joshua and Wilder, the World Boxing Council champion but this is now a distant prospect. Joshua will need to win his belts back but it is unlikely Ruiz will agree to a rematch soon.