Via Jake Tiernan: Match promoter Barry Hearn says Anthony Joshua was misquoted when he recently said he wouldn’t return to the ring until December. He believes Joshua (25-2, 22 KOs) will ” turn around” and choose to fight before December.
Joshua seems to be pretty clear in his message on social media that he won’t be competing until December, so there’s no misquoting going on.
What you can say is maybe Joshua was confused when he said he wouldn’t fight until December because he may have doubted himself about going into a bout with Dillian Whyte on July. That’s who Eddie Hearn tried to get Joshua to fight in July.
Eddie Hearn always wanted a rematch Joshua vs. Whyte, and not just recently. He’s been vocal about that fight since last year, so it’s not just because he looked bad in his recent bout with second-place boxer Jermaine Franklin.
Hearn has talked a lot about Joshua fighting Whyte again for the longest time, and perhaps he’s not happy about AJ saying he won’t fight until December.
It’s easy to make money for Joshua in a fight with Whyte and minimal risk, based on Dillian’s shot. That struggle is a Mayweather-style bank robbery.
“First of all, I think there has been some misinformation about him not going to box until December. He’s thinking about not boxing until December,” Barry Hearn said to Joe in giving an update on Anthony Joshua.
“I love Anthony but he’s on vacation right now, He’s having a good time. He spent his life in training camps,” said Barry. “When you’re having a good time, you want to keep having a good time, but I know Anthony a little more than that.
“I wouldn’t be 100% surprised to see that happen.” Hearn talked about how he believes Joshua will change his mind about not fighting until December.
“Fight [with Jermaine Franklin] was successful until the job was done. I don’t think it’s the best Anthony Joshua I’ve seen in a long time. There is clearly room for improvement and major mental issues to overcome, which we all know.
“Now we ask ourselves. Do we accompany him on his journey? Totally agree. So I won’t criticize him; I will understand him. There’s a lot going on in the weight class and some incredible bulls as well as that of a lot of people. I suppose that’s boxing in general.
“But it is a good step forward. I’d love to see him take a step or two further, but that’s his decision. He is a 34 year old adult male. He lives his life in a training camp. People have their opinions about boxers, never having lived the life they lived.
“I give the decision to Anthony, but he is a very sensitive boy. He knows he has a plan, and I believe he can go back to his best days. But I may be biased because I like him a lot. I don’t apologize for that.
“I like people who give 100% for me. With Joshua, I have never had less. So whatever he wants to do, we’ll be with him,” Barry Hearn said.
