Anthony Joshua’s future: Eddie Hearn admits AJ has struggled since Daniel Dubois defeat

Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has admitted that Anthony Joshua has struggled since suffering a knockout defeat at the hands of Daniel Dubois.

As we know, Anthony Joshua was handed a pretty devastating loss in his last outing. Ever since than, fans have been wondering what could be next for him. The former world champion has already said he isn’t considering retirement, but at the same time, Daniel Dubois has put rematch talks on hold in favor of a showdown with Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia.

In a recent interview, Eddie Hearn spoke candidly about how it all played out for Anthony Joshua.

Eddie Hearn opens up on Anthony Joshua

“Honestly, I think after a fight like that, he is a very brave faced guy publicly, he wants to show you how to accept defeat humbly,” Hearn added.

“And I think a fighter off the back of a defeat a couple of weeks after they are generally okay.

“They go back to the gym, everyone is giving them a pat on the back and they are okay. But I would say he has struggled if I am honest. I always say to a fighter, ‘I want you to struggle, I want it to hurt really bad’.

“I don’t want AJ to go, ‘Oh well,’ and he’s never going to be that type of fighter. Yeah, he is hurting. He took a pasting at times in that fight and I think he has got his back up and he wants to come back stronger. I don’t think it is ever easy. The reason this sport is so compelling is because you are on your own in there.

“When you are scrambling on the floor to get up and hang on for dear life, time and time again it is very humbling and probably very humiliating.

“He had to go through that experience. He never stopped trying, he never stopped trying to get up till the point where he couldn’t get up. I think he showed a lot of heart but he got well beaten and he needs to go back and work out why.”

Quotes via talkSPORT