Anthony Joshua wept with emotion as he reflected on his second loss to Oleksandr Usyk in Jeddah on Saturday, saying he was deeply "upset" with his showing against the Ukrainian heavyweight champion.
Usyk retained his heavyweight belts formerly held by the WBA, WBO, IBF, and IBO. He, however, relinquished them to Joshua, who won the world's most famous boxing belts with a split-decision victory.
It's really hard for me to admit I'm proud. I'm really upset, deep down in my heart.
"In the past, I took on a boxer in a different style, but it wasn't good enough, and tonight is definitely not good enough."
Joshua threw the two of Usyk's belts down in the final minutes of the match, before storming away from the ring. He then came back to score an emotional speech.
If you act from the heart, it can be challenging to comprehend others. It was just from your heart. I knew that I was hurt. Not at anyone, only myself. I was excited to get out of here that I was mad.
When you're angry, you might do stupid things. Then I realised this is sport. I came back and did the right thing.
Eddie Hearn denied retirement speculation for 32-year-old Joshua, who has lost to Usyk, only in recent years.
"I'm a fighter for life. That hunger never dies. Fighter for life," Joshua said.