Don’t write Joshua off, Hearn warns ahead of AJ’s return

Mexican-American heavyweight boxing champion Andy Ruiz Jr (L), and British heavyweight boxing challenger Anthony Joshua (R) face each other, as Eddie Hearn (C) looks on during their press conference in Diriyah in the Saudi capital Riyadh, on December 4, 2019, ahead of the upcoming “Clash on the Dunes”. – The hotly-anticipated rematch between Ruiz Jr and British challenger Anthony Joshua is scheduled to take place in Diriya, near the Saudi capital on December 7. (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP)

Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has warned heavyweight fighters in the top echelon of world boxing to get ready for the return of the former lineal world champion, who is set to make his long-awaited comeback in April. Joshua has been out of boxing since he lost his last two fights and his world heavyweight boxing titles to Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk.

Since the last battle in Saudi Arabia, many boxing pundits have written the Nigerian-born Briton off as a has-been, who has nothing more to offer the sport.

But Hearn thinks otherwise. Speaking on a podcast by saddoboxing.com, Hearn said Joshua has rested well and is now ready to regain his position in the sport.

He said: “Get ready for the return of Joshua. We leave in a mad world, where things happen in a flash. “This guy has gone on a run without rest…fighting Charles Martin, Molina, Klitschko, Takan, Parker, Povetkin, Ruiz twice and Usyk twice, with no breaks, no easy nights. “He comes off the back of two difficult fights, one good fight with Usyk and one that he was dominated. These were against one of the best pound-for-pound heavyweights around; yet, people still disrespect him. “Those that want to downplay his achievements, all I am telling you is to get ready for Joshua’s