Joshua’s’ dad stopped from fighting Hearn after Ruiz defeat

DEFEATED Anthony Joshua appeared to restrain his “upset” dad as he tried to confront Eddie Hearn following his son’s shock loss to Andy Ruiz Jr.

Star AJ was spotted by eagle-eyed fans holding back his dad, Richard, after he made a beeline for the promoter in the ring.

The distraught dad had to be held back by Joshua during the exchange which was all caught on camera at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Ruiz knocked Joshua down four times before the referee called the fight during the seventh round in a sensational scrap that has shocked the world.

It’s not known why Richard was so frustrated with Hearn but the promoter has come under fire for being unable to book Joshua a fight with heavyweight titans Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury.

“No, it’s me… I’m the one fighting,” Joshua could be heard telling his father he gestured and pointed in the promoter’s direction.

Eventually Joshua managed to calm his father down and lead him away from the confrontation.

Joshua, whose shock loss was the first in his professional career, said later: “My dad’s upset, which is a natural reaction.

“Everyone’s in good spirits; losing isn’t a good night but it’s something we can learn from.”

He added: “My dad said ‘tighten up and get smart’ when things are going good nothing’s going wrong, then something bad happens, you realise.”

Joshua, 29, was by far the bookies favourite before the stunning defeat last night to Mexican Ruiz Jr, who was 25-1. Hearn described his performance as “sloppy” in the aftermath to the shocking fight.

He said: “AJ got sloppy and he never recovered. It was a beautiful combination in the third round that put him down.”

Read Also: ‘I will get my belts back soon’, says Joshua

Olympic champion Joshua was gracious in defeat and congratulated Ruiz, who is the first Mexican heavyweight.