Anthony Joshua v Oleksandr Uzyk: I'll fight Tyson Fury with the belts off - Joshua
Anthony Joshua claims he is "a completely different animal than a sulker" after losing his world heavyweight title to Oleksandr Uzyk.
Joshua claimed he couldn't see round nine after suffering an eye injury in Saturday's fight with the Ukrainian at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Eddie Hearn, his promoter suggested that the fighter might have had a fractured eye socket.
Joshua, 31 years old, said that Joshua cannot go back to sulk.
When asked about the problems, Briton replied that he couldn't see the ninth round because his eye was closed.
It was a positive experience, because in adversity, you have to learn to control your self, keep on top of everything, so when it wasn't possible to see anything, it was the first time it happened in a fight.
Hearn stated that Joshua had shown Usyk (34), too much respect. He would need to make "fundamental adjustments" in order to regain the WBA and WBO titles he lost in the fight.
The Briton had a rematch clause in the contract with Usyk and confirmed it later.
"This is an invaluable experience. Joshua is pictured mid-fight with his swelling eye.
Joshua said, "When I was walking through the tunnel, just saying to myself, "I'm ready for the gym, I'm willing to put in the work."
"I just want back to the gym, to keep going and to improve so that when I see these guys hurt, I can capitalize on it.
It was a great lesson. It's easy to see it as a negative thing, but for me it was a great lesson that I can learn from and continue to build on.
"I don't tend to look at the enemy. I tend to look at my own mistakes and see where I have made them. It's not about what he did, but the opportunities I provided for him. It's not about him. I will just go back and examine myself to correct my mistakes.
"I am a different animal. I am not a sulker. It's a blessing to be able fight for the heavyweight title in the world, fight great fighters, and allow people to come out.
"I won't be going home crying because of this war. It is a long process. It's not a one-fight fight that ends it all.
"I am going back to see if there are ways I can improve. "I was watching the fight immediately and thought, "I could have done that better."
Warren: Fury fight is 'doubtful.
Frank Warren, Tyson Fury's promoter, is doubtful that a long-awaited fight with Joshua will take place after Usyk was crowned the unified heavyweight champion.
Warren stated that he didn't believe it would happen now, according to BBC Sport.
"What would Tyson do to Tyson if it happened?" It would not have been 12 rounds. Tyson would have decimated him. Yes. It was a huge fight. It was heartbreaking.
"What would Tyson Fury have done to Joshua?" A better chin, bigger puncher."
Warren stated that Joshua didn't have any strategies and compared Saturday’s fight to his shock June 2019 defeat by Andy Ruiz Jr.
Warren stated, "Usyk was a great fighter. He boxed exceptionally well."
"But that was my problem about this fight – Joshua is so vulnerable. He has been like this for years.
"I was afraid Joshua would outgrow Usyk. But I knew that if he was there at end, then he'd be outboxed. Usyk almost had him over by the end."
He was very gun shy. Never let his hands go. They can talk about rematches all they like. He's been exposed as he was against Ruiz. He was fighting Usyk. How could he get outjabbled by Usyk? That shocked me.
"Even if Usyk beats him, what's Tyson Fury going do to Joshua?" Tyson defeating him would be a victory for you.
Joshua answered a question about Fury's future fight. He said that marketing is the key to success. It just reminded me of the circus that it is when I pulled up today. This is the best show on Earth.
"I will fight Tyson Fury or Wilder without the belts. Although the belts are great fun, it's great and it's a legacy, I will fight anyone with or without them. Although the road to undisputed champion is a great title to chase, would you be able to watch it without the belts as well?
"The most important thing is that you have two British fighters in your ring that are willing to fight and just want to get toe-to-toe."
Eddie Hearn, Matchroom boss, admitted that he was "gutted” about the loss.
Hearn said that Hearn would have to make fundamental changes and box differently after the fight.
"I don't see AJ fighting for a 10-round bout, he boxes twice a year so maybe that is something we should look into."
He will go away, and all he will think about Oleksandr Uzyk. He will think: "How can I beat him? How can I improve?" He is obsessed about improving.
"I feel that Anthony Joshua is more powerful in that fight, but he will need to do more in the rematch to win."
Analyse
BBC Sport's Coral Barry, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Joshua is a great fighter, even in defeat.
After the fight, it was reported that Joshua would be going straight to the hospital to address a serious eye injury. Joshua was faced with the media, just like he was when Andy Ruiz Jr defeated him in New York.
Joshua, bruised and dissatisfied with his performance after the crowd of 65,000 left Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, sat down hours later. It is rare for boxing to accept defeat from a better fighter.
Joshua was calm and collected as he answered any questions. The prospect of facing an extraordinary opponent and overcoming it was almost thrilling for the two-time world champion.
Joshua was confident and it is still to be seen if his bravado will carry him through another difficult chapter of his career.
Joshua was able reinvent himself to defeat Ruiz. It will be even more difficult to do the same to beat Usyk.
