ANTHONY JOSHUA was NOT knocked out during sparring for his sensational loss to Andy Ruiz Jr.
talkSPORT and Telegraph boxing reporter Gareth A Davies told the Alan Brazil show that was the rumour doing the rounds in the US after AJ put in a such a shocking performance.
Joshua looked nervous before the bell, getting a late massage and chewing on his gumshield.
And, three rounds into the biggest night of his career, he was clipped with a left hook and his legs betrayed him until he was stopped in the seventh.
The shock collapse, combined with the ugly scenes between Joshua’s dad and promoter Eddie Hearn, had conspiracy theorists and gossips going into overdrive.
But an AJBOXING insider shot down the claims, refusing like the 29-year-old former champ to lay blame elsewhere or discredit Ruiz’s brilliant win.
Joshua has another problem to contend with going forward.
The Brit has a huge Achilles’ heel when clocked with the left hook in which the new heavyweight champ exploited to perfection.
Mihai Nistor, Dillian Whyte, Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin all wobbled him with similar punches to the head before Ruiz finished him off with it over the weekend.
He never recovered from a left hook to his temple shortly after having Ruiz on the canvas.
Joshua was mumbling to trainer Rob McCracken: “Why am I feeling like this” and was unable to take on any of the wise advice his mentor was desperately offering. All from one concussive left hook, again.
