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Anthony Joshua was sensationally stopped by Andy Ruiz Junior in seven rounds in a massive upset at Madison Square Garden.

Joshua went into his US debut a huge favourite, but was put down four times before referee Michael Griffin stopped the contest in a TKO win for Ruiz.

Ruiz went wild in the ring and he had fulfilled his dream of becoming Mexico’s first heavyweight world champion as he claimed the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.

For Joshua, there was only shock and disbelief that he had suffered his first loss in the ring since losing in the finals of the world amateur championships in 2011.

Joshua did not look right from the first bell as the aggressive Ruiz forced him back.

(Image: Getty Images) (Image: PA)

He looked in control in the third when he put Ruiz down, only to make the same mistake he did against Wladimir Klitschko by blowing himself out emotionally.

Ruiz put him down twice in the third round to leave Joshua hanging on.

Joshua recovered for a couple of rounds before Ruiz put him down twice again in the seventh round to signal the end of the Brit’s three-year reign as world heavyweight champion.

Promoter Eddie Hearn claimed there would be a huge rematch in the UK and he is adamant this is not the end for his golden boy.

This win for Ruiz is almost in James ‘Buster’ Douglas territory and he was just supposed to be a willing victim for Joshua on his US debut.

(Image: Getty Images) (Image: PA)

He weighed in at a career-heaviest 19+ stone and looked to have more blubber than he had at the public work-outs on Tuesday.

Appearances can be deceptive and Ruiz was aggressive from the first round and stepped inside Joshua’s longer jab to catch the champion.

The challenger also flew at Joshua at the start of the second and landed a right on Joshua’s jaw.

Joshua found his range towards the end of the round and caught Ruiz with a right and a left hook in quick succession.

Joshua decked Ruiz with a left hook a minute into the third round, but just as he had done against Wladimir Klitschko, he got careless and landed himself in trouble.

(Image: PA) (Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Ruiz came out swinging and put him down with a right hook, forcing the champ to take an eight count.

Ruiz kept pummelling away and Joshua’s legs turned to spaghetti. He was out on his feet as he desperately jabbed at his opponent to keep him off.

Ruiz forced him into a neutral corner and unloaded on him, putting him down a second before the end of the round with two left hooks.

Referee Griffin gave Joshua another eight count and he somehow managed to survive.

Ruiz failed to press home his advantage in the fourth and Joshua regained his breath and his composure.

Joshua now took the initiative and rocked Ruiz with a strong left, only for the Mexican to quickly recover his composure.

(Image: Getty Images) (Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Joshua looked gun shy in the sixth and Ruiz regained the initiative towards the end of the round, firing off shots at him as he backed off.

Joshua was hesitant and Ruiz took full advantage to put him down again in the seventh, forcing him to take another eight count.

Joshua got up, only to go down again under a succession of blows from Ruiz.

He was knackered and Griffin began counting, before taking him back to his corner and waving the contest off.