BOB ARUM claimed Anthony Joshua is NOT an ‘elite heavyweight’ after being knocked out by ‘non-puncher’ Andy Ruiz Jr.
AJ was stunned by underdog Ruiz in June 2019, who four times floored the Brit before winning in round seven.
But Joshua brilliantly outboxed the unlikely champion in the rematch six months later to win back his unified heavyweight titles.
Despite the rematch result, Tyson Fury’s US promoter Arum said AJ’s initial upset loss still lives long in the memory.
He told journalist Gareth A Davies: “I’m not thrilled with Joshua.
“I don’t think much of Joshua, because every time the name Joshua is mentioned, I see him laying on the canvas after getting hit by a non-puncher like Andy Ruiz.
“I’m telling you the truth. I may be underestimating Joshua, but I’m not convinced that Joshua is an elite heavyweight.”
Arum had been working with Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn to negotiate an undisputed title decider between the heavyweight superstars.
And terms looked all but-agreed for August 14 in the Middle East – until it was scrapped at the 11th hour.
It came as Deontay Wilder won his right to a trilogy bout with Fury, leaving the historic, four-belt undisputed fight up in smoke.
Wilder will instead rematch his heavyweight rival once more on October 9, while AJ fights mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk on September 25.
If both champion’s prevail, Hall of Famer Arum is ready to start discussions for the all-English unification again.
But he warned Fury’s trilogy with Wilder is a bigger deal Stateside and once again referenced Joshua’s only career defeat to date.
Arum said: “This is no disrespect to him, Anthony Joshua means next to nothing in the United States with the boxing community.
“All they remember of Anthony Joshua is his one fight in the United States where he got knocked out by a non-puncher like Andy Ruiz, that view of Anthony Joshua will not change easily.
“So, if Anthony Joshua fought Tyson Fury in the United States, it wouldn’t do nearly as well as Tyson Fury’s upcoming fight with Deontay Wilder.
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“He’s not a personality, he doesn’t come through to the US public.
“It may very well be different the way he connects with the UK public, but he doesn’t connect with the American public.
“They don’t know who he is or what he stands for – they know nothing about him.”
