ANTHONY JOSHUA has claimed British boxers like himself and Tyson Fury don’t get the “respect” they deserve.
The WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champ also admitted last year was “real tough” after he suffered his first ever pro defeat to huge underdog Andy Ruiz Jr.
Anthony Joshua has reflected on a ‘rough’ 2019 that saw him suffer his first defeatCredit: PA:Press Association
Joshua was floored FOUR times on the way to a devastating seventh-round stoppage loss to the portly Mexican on his US debut back in June.
But six months later AJ got his revenge in the rematch.
It was a completely different Joshua in the ring in Saudia Arabia in December as he danced around Ruiz Jr from the off and easily outpointed the champ to regain his world titles.
Speaking to Sky Sports about the ups and downs, Joshua, 30, said: “It was a difficult time in my career. Last year was a real tough year.
“As a British heavyweight fighter, we never get the respect from the world media, which is governed by America to a certain degree, because we’re British.
“Americans are going to take care of Americans. So when I lost… you take challenges, the goal is to win 100 per cent.”
JOSHUA YET TO CRACK AMERICA
While Joshua flopped on his debut on the States, the same can’t be said of his big Brit rival Tyson Fury’s American dream.
The Gypsy King drew with then WBC king Deontay Wilder in December 2018, before sensationally battering the Alabama fighter to his first ever loss in February this year.
It also meant Fury won the only heavyweight belt he had never had before – the WBC version.
Joshua, meanwhile, was scheduled to defend his world titles on June 20 against Kubrat Pulev at the Tottenham Hotsour Stadium before it was postponed because of the coronavirus crisis.
That is now believed to be taking place on July 25 after Bulgarian Pulev leaked the date on Instagram.
The 38-year-old wrote: “Despite humanity’s most difficult fight to date and the underestimation of the effects on the world of the coronavirus, we will be forced to learn to live in a new, not so pleasant, way that millions of people around the world will be mildly unhappy.
“Despite the difficulties, we must find new opportunities to smile, to transform our lives so that despite all the unpleasant things, to remain happy and to believe in a better future, and that all of this is, after all, for good!
“This is exactly why, despite my real view of the situation, I strongly believe that a world title match can be held on the new date of July 25.”
Anthony Joshua feels British fighters like him and Tyson Fury sill don’t get the credit they deserveCredit: PA:Press Association
Eddie Hearn announces Joshua vs Pulev postponement as coronavirus outbreak KO’s heavyweight title fight at Tottenham
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
