Eddie Hearn Unhappy After Anthony Joshua Showcases “A Bit of Inexperience”

Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) really should have listened to Eddie Hearn.

The two-time former unified world heavyweight champion recently battled it out for the IBF heavyweight title in a sensational showdown against Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs). He ended up losing to Dubois via 5th-round TKO, marking his first loss after a 4-fight winning streak. Matchroom boss Hearn, however, believes that Joshua could have secured the title if only he had heeded his advice.

Dubois hit Joshua under his abdomen during the fight. Talking to reporters after the bout, Hearn revealed that he had asked Joshua to take a break following the blow.

“When Daniel Dubois hit him in the nuts in the third or fourth round, I’m screaming at AJ to take the full five minutes. That’s actually a bit of inexperience. At that point, he couldn’t stand up. He’s been hit full-blown in the groin. All he’s got to do is motion to the ref, but that’s not him. He just went to the ref, ‘I’m fine. Let’s go,’” he said.

Hearn added that if Joshua had listened to him and taken the break, he would have been in better shape to face Dubois in the (then) upcoming rounds. However, it should be said that Joshua looked extremely winded after the blow, and a five-minute break would have done little (if anything) to help him recover. “I’m like, ‘No, what are you doing?’ Then it happened again because he just came to fight. When you talk about entertainment, maybe vulnerability, but also a huge puncher who was ready to let his hands go,” he said.

“Joshua Needs A New Trainer”

Former champion Hasim Rahman, on the other hand, feels that Joshua needs a new trainer to prepare him for his future fights. Talking to FightHype, Rahman mentioned that Dubois fought with “reckless abandon” on fight night, while Joshua seemed a little bit more passive in his moves. He added that a good trainer would have prepared him accordingly.

“I think Anthony Joshua needs a different trainer. I know there’s a trainer out there that he doesn’t necessarily get along with, but I believe Lennox Lewis can take him to the heavyweight championship of the world,” he said. “I think Lennox would be the best trainer for Anthony Joshua. So whatever little discrepancy that they got, they can put that to the side and make an all-British dream team and go back and reclaim the title a third time.”

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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