ANTHONY JOSHUA claims Oleksandr Usyk was not the most difficult opponent in his career, despite losing his heavyweight titles.
Joshua's second reign of unification heavyweight champion ended on Saturday night thanks to a brilliant performance by the Ukrainian.
AJ claims that the lopsided loss was not the most difficult fight of his career
AJ was outboxed right from the start, but he insists that Usyk's slick southpaw wasn't the most difficult test in his professional and amateur careers.
Joshua answered "No, no way." when Joshua was asked if Ukrainian was his toughest fight.
"Because it was not too physical. But I still lost. It wasn't the hardest thing.
Joshua, 31, is determined to win his second professional loss and be a three-time champion of heavyweight boxing.
A dejected AJ asked: "What went wrong?" It was a loss. I couldn't see the 9th round. My eye was closed, but it was an enjoyable experience.
"In adversity you have to learn how to control yourself. It was the first time it had ever happened to me. I could only see out of one eye.
"I want it 100% it was a 12 rounder and it will make me better."
Usyk, a 34-year-old world champion at two weight, hopes to defend his titles on home soil for the first time.
Joshua is willing to fight for enemy territory. He said: "Yeah. Of course. Anywhere.
"Wherever there is an opportunity. As I said, anywhere. Anywhere there is an opportunity. I would love to compete again.
"I'll talk to the promotion team and the management team."
Joshua, who has shared the ring for 12 rounds with Usyk, is confident that he will beat his London 2012 Olympian opponent in the rematch.
He stated, "Just being a quick learn. It is important to discern the positive and the negative.
"If you view it from a negative perspective, you won't have the mindset of making a difference.
But if you see it from a positive perspective, you will realize that I lost.
"But that's not a lesson. That's a blessing. It can be used as fuel to improve my life.
"And use it to right my wrongs." You will only get better from there.
"So, I'm not going to hold myself back from the mistake that I made. I'm only going to lift myself up and say, "Actually, what do you know? It was a hard fight.
"But from that fight I'm going to go away, get out my notepad and find ways of improving."
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