Anthony Joshua has launched an impassioned defence of his trainer Rob McCracken following the criticism that followed his stunning knockout defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in June.

Joshua insisted he never considered replacing McCracken, who will once again be in his corner for the 30-year-old’s rematch in Saudi Arabia on December 7.

McCracken’s tactics were heavily criticised by former world champion Lennox Lewis among others, while the trainer’s admission that he allowed Joshua to fight on despite fearing he was concussed also drew criticism.

Joshua has armed himself with a keen sense of perspective in the months following his loss to Ruiz Jr, a late replacement who was considered a mere stepping stone to bigger unification bouts against the likes of Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.

He insists that training back at the GB headquarters in Sheffield, where his international career began amid budget hotel stays and strict group training sessions, will give him a crucial advantage as he seeks the win that will resurrect his career.

“I’ve learned a lot of things from the defeat,” added Joshua. “I’ve learned to take a loss like a man, and to be thankful that I have a second opportunity to go again.

“I don’t like to talk about it too much because the thing that goes on the record is the loss, not the description. It definitely had an effect on me, but it takes more than that to knock a man like me back.”