Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz: Brit addresses rumours of 'panic attack' before fight in New York

The Brit lost his IBO, IBF, WBO and WBA (super) heavyweight titles after being knocked down four times en route to a first professional defeat

Anthony Joshua has dismissed rumours he was in anything other than peak condition in the build-up to his world heavyweight title fight with Andy Ruiz Jr.

The Brit lost his IBO, IBF, WBO and WBA (super) heavyweight titles after being knocked down four times en route to a first professional defeat.

Joshua offered no excuses afterwards but that did nothing to dampen talk that he was knocked out in sparring in the run up or that he even suffered a panic attack on the eve of the fight.

The now former world champion, however, claims there was nothing of the sort, despite the various theories put forward following Saturday night's drama.

"The whole training camp team pulled together," he said in a video posted on his YouTube channel. "I started my camp in Sheffield, worked there for six or seven weeks; then came to New York for the press tour.

"There were a lot of issues with Jarrell Miller, [Luis] Ortiz pulling out, and Ruiz stepping in, but it all makes for the drama show, the entertainment of heavyweight boxing. I went to Miami where the set up was spot on.

"There are lot of accusations and worries about what went wrong with me but I'm a soldier and I have to take my ups and downs.

"I had no panic attack, I'm not that type of person. I have to take my loss like a man, I'm not blaming any man or any thing. I went in there to perform and my performance didn't go to plan, my game plan didn't go to plan.

"On Saturday I took a loss and I have to take it like a man. Never let success go to your head, and never let your failures get to your heart. It's tough, when you lose sometimes it feels like it rips away a part of you, but I'm not going to change anything, I'm still ambitious and I'm still going to walk with my head held high like a champion."

Former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis was among those to suggest Joshua should look for a new trainer, but Joshua insists he will stick with Rob McCracken.

"I took my first (professional) loss. How to explain that feeling? It has happened to me before but I feel like those times I lost years back have made me a stronger person," Joshua added.

Joshua lost to Ruiz in New York (AP)

"It hasn't really changed me, my work ethic, my mindset, what I stand for, the people I'm still loyal to - my trainer Rob McCracken, my amateur coach at Finchley ABC. I'm still going to work with these guys, they'll teach me everything I need to know.

"They've done a great job for me not only inside the boxing ring but mainly as a human. They've really developed me as a person which is really important. These guys have been with me for years."