EDDIE HEARN insists Anthony Joshua is still a bigger star than Tyson Fury – despite his loss to Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua’s second reign as unified heavyweight champ came to an end last weekend thanks to a masterful performance from the undefeated Ukrainian.
The Watford warrior was dethroned in front of a sell-out crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which Hearn believes is yet another testament to his star power.
He told iFL TV: “He’s [Joshua] on such a bigger level commercially than Tyson Fury, even now.
“He’s by far the biggest draw in heavyweight boxing, especially in the UK. To be fair, even Tyson Fury and his team know that.
“If he [Joshua] beats Usyk, he’s on another level, and he’s coming off the back of another defeat.
“He’s still by far the biggest draw in the division. You saw it last Saturday. Look at the pictures.
“See any of the other guys trying to draw and create images like that in the UK. It’s impossible.”
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Joshua was given a boxing clinic by slick southpaw Usyk, who joined a select group of former cruiserweight to win heavyweight gold.
But Gyspy King Fury has refused to mock his rival’s latest defeat – despite it potentially killing their long-awaited showdown.
He said: “I am not worried about Usyk or Joshua and you are not going to get me slagging anyone off.
“I will not kick anyone while they are down. I have no interest in kicking someone who is down and maybe suffering mentally after such a long reign.
“There’s no secret or rocket science to winning a rematch, fighters try to make it technical, downloading data and all that bulls**t.
“And if it’s not going well then change it up and do something different.
He’s on such a bigger level commercially than Tyson Fury, even now
Eddie Hearn
“Don’t be a coulda-shoulda-woulda man.
“My advice to Joshua is to get stuck in, put his front foot forward and swing away, swing away.”
Joshua, 31, has already exercised the rematch clause placed in his contract to face his fellow Olympic gold medallist.
And Hearn is adamant the pair’s second showdown won’t in any way resemble their first.
He said: “This rematch, whether you think AJ can win or not, I’m telling you, it will be entirely different and write him off at your peril.
“You’ll see a different Anthony Joshua in this fight, and that’s our excitement. The disappointment of defeat and now revenge.
“We’ve been here before, and now a three-time heavyweight world champion. That’s the new dream. He’ll do his work.
Now, I’m excited because that rematch is going to happen early next year, and if he does it, which I believe he can, he’s on a whole new level.
“This game plan is not box and move, this plan is to go in and hurt Usyk.”
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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
