Anthony Joshua is not taking his loss like a man

Former unified heavyweight world titleholder Anthony Joshua said days after his shocking seventh-round knockout loss to Andy Ruiz on June 1, “I have to take my loss like a man.”

Whatever version of Joshua that was — it is gone.

Joshua told Sky Sports that Ruiz “ain’t that skillful” and beat him “by a lucky punch sent by the Gods.”

It was not just one punch, but an accumulation of punches.

Joshua was dropped four times, twice in the third, and twice more in the seventh round en route to the major upset for Ruiz — in what turned out to be a very painful U.S. debut for the 2012 Olympic gold medalist.

Ruiz (33-1, 22 KO’s, of Imperial, California. got dropped at the beginning of the third round as well. The Mexican-American never made any excuses, got back up, and beat up Joshua.

“That was my first time getting dropped on the floor,” Ruiz said after the fight. “But you know what, it just made me stronger and made me want it even more. I just had to knock him down back.”

And he did. Ruiz clipped Joshua with a left hook and a right to the top of the head to floor him. Ruiz followed up with an unanswered, 12-punch flurry to drop him a second time?

Lucky punch? Not so much. It is all excuses from Joshua. And it is not the only he has made. In recent weeks, Joshua also claimed that his loss was partially caused by him focusing on a future bout with unbeaten WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.

Again, not taking his loss like a man.

Joshua and Ruiz are expected to do it again on Dec. 14 at a yet to be constructed outdoor stadium in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. Ruiz is expected to pocket $9 million, while Joshua will make $31 million.