Eddie Hearn Speaks About Joshua Condition
IBF World Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua (17-0, 17 KOs) fresh from his successful maiden title defense against Breazeale at the packed O2 Arena, is not so fresh, this was said by his promoter Eddie Hearn.
While talking to Sky Sports he revealed that Joshua was suffering from exhaustion and a virus before the fight, which effected his fight preparations.
The Londoner stopped his unbeaten American challenger in the 7th round. Although it was quite a one sided fight but it took hell of a beating from Joshua to drop Breazeale on the canvas. Breazeale proved one thing that he’s got one of the best chins in boxing. If he can develop his attacking game he can be a force to reckon with.
Hearn said: “Behind the scenes, he (AJ) wouldn’t talk about this kind of thing because it seems like he’s making excuses, but he didn’t have a great camp. He had a situation where he boxed Charles Martin and had two weeks’ rest, but that rest involved commercial appearances, broadcast appearances and sponsorship obligations. By the time he went into the camp, he was still tired. Three weeks ago, he came down with a virus and there were a couple of doubts about the fight at one stage. He went in the ring in great condition, but Breazeale was tough and there have been fighters that have wilted. I spoke to him and he realises he has to pace himself. As we step up in level, it is going to be harder and harder to get these guys out of there. When he got rid of Breazeale, he thought, ‘Thank God for that’. On Saturday, he exerted enough energy, he busted his nose and crashed out a few shots. Breazeale was the perfect test for the first defence.”
“In nine months, Anthony Joshua has boxed four undefeated opponents, he has won the Commonwealth, British and the world title heavyweight title and defended it. It is not just the fight – people will say Gary Cornish was one round – it’s the camp. It is eight to 10 weeks of solid training for every one of those fights. Now, he’s going to go off and I said to him to be a young man, have a laugh, go to the beach, hopefully where nobody knows you, which I know is difficult these days. When we left that weigh-in on Friday, he was bundled in the Range Rover and people chased him down the street. It’s great to see in boxing, but that drains you in itself. The adulation is fantastic, but it takes it out of you, too. Young kids look up to Anthony Joshua and we should embrace him.” Hearn added.
The Champ is expected to take a well-deserved rest and will be back in September, fresh with recharged batteries to defend his title against a tougher opponent. The name is not yet finalized but it is rumored he’ll face mandatory challenger Joseph Parker. Super unification fights with Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury are expected in 2017.
