"Enjoy the moment and celebrate. We will meet again. In the meantime, I congratulate you. I apologize to the fans, which I failed, but I want to say thanks to my opponent," said the former world heavyweight champion.
It was a voluntary defense of the titles, and AJ had a rematch clause in the contract.
"I lost against a really good opponent. This is boxing. Ruiz did a good job today, but I'll be back. At the moment, he is the champion," Joshua added.
Andy Ruiz, Jr. (33-1, 22 KOs) was able to get up after a knockdown in the third round and sent Joshua on the floor twice in the same three-minute, and in the seventh round Ruiz finished him with the devastating blows, twice sending the favorite to the canvas. Thus, an American with Mexican roots has become the new champion of of the world by IBF, WBA and WBO.