Anthony Joshua was shocked as he suffered the first defeat of his professional career when he was knocked out by Andy Ruiz Jr in the seventh round of his American debut. 

The Watford-born boxer was heavy favourite to win the fight against Ruiz in what was supposed to be a something of a coronation at Madison Square Garden, with the opponent being a late stand-in after Joshua's original opponent Jarrell Miller tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.

Things seemed to be going to plan when Joshua knocked Ruiz down in an explosive third round, that saw the Mexican-American fight back and send the British boxer tumbling to the canvas twice.

Joshua was shell-shocked, looked bereft of both hope and confidence and never really recovered.

In the following rounds Ruiz, who went into the fight with nothing to lose, fought well on the counter and hammered Joshua with some powerful shots that eventually took their toll in round seven, as Joshua fell twice more, before referee Mike Griffin stopped the bout and sent ripples of shock throughout the world of boxing.

Both Joshua and Eddie Hearn were booed loudly by the spectators following the fight, many of whom had travelled from the UK to see AJ defend his IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles.

Immediately after his surprise victory, the new champion Ruiz said: "Everybody underestimated me and anybody who betted on me is going to win a lot of money."