Eddie Hearn reveals real reason Anthony Joshua’s February rematch with Daniel Dubois was KO’d amid ‘major injury’ claim

EDDIE HEARN has opened up on the injury which has prevented Anthony Joshua from renewing his rivalry with Daniel Dubois early next year.

The Watford warrior was on course for a do-or-die rematch with Dubois, who brutalised him in their September slugfest at Wembley, on February 22.

But a new timeline for the domestic dust-up is currently being explored due to nagging injuries to the former two-time heavyweight champ.

But promoter Hearn insists it won’t be long before the Olympian is fighting fit again, telling The Stomping Ground: “There’s no major injury.

“Every fighter has niggles in camp, especially when you’re a heavyweight who trains every day and spars really hard.

“There’s nothing that’s going to be a long-term problem.

“For a turnaround after a five or six-week break after a defeat like that, it’s just not possible to be a hundred per cent.”

Joshua, 35, has yet to give any indication of the injury he’s currently dealing with.

Although Hearn has seemingly hinted he may be suffering from a minor issue in one of his biceps.

The Matchroom Boxing chief said: “There’s no tear in the bicep, there’s just wear-and-tear that means he cannot go into a training camp with the same intensity that he would want to.”

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Joshua was dropped a staggering four times by IBF king Dubois on his way to suffering a fifth-round KO defeat.

AJ was champing at the bit to exact his revenge, so much so he was willing to push through his injury.

But he ended up being overruled by his team and Hearn, who revealed to Boxing News: “We had a very awkward call.

“He wanted to fight on February 22 and basically was told that there is no way you can start camp and be 100 per cent for February 22, physically.

“There’s nothing major.

“There’s two or three issues that he had a little bit in camp but also after the fight as well.

“And they said you need to come back in May-June and he didn’t want to do it.

“He wanted to fight on February 22 but unfortunately we kind of had to overrule him on this and say no because we can’t afford not to get this right.

“If you get beaten again by Daniel Dubois you have to seriously consider your future.

“We got one last chapter in this career that we need to make sure we get 100 per cent spot on.

“So when he comes back in May or June or whenever that’s gonna be you got to be physically mentally 100 per cent ready.

“He wants to rematch Daniel so bad.”

Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk