Eddie Hearn has fiercely defended Anthony Joshua against his critics, labeling them as “losers” who fail to appreciate Joshua’s contributions to boxing. As Joshua prepares to become a three-time heavyweight world champion by facing Daniel Dubois for the IBF title in September, Hearn expressed his frustration with the negativity surrounding Joshua.
Joshua, who won an Olympic gold medal at the London 2012 Games, quickly rose to prominence in professional boxing. Within four years, he became the heavyweight champion by knocking out Charles Martin for the IBF title. Joshua went on to defend his title twice and unified the division by defeating Wladimir Klitschko and Joseph Parker to claim the WBA and WBO titles.
However, his career faced setbacks with a shock stoppage defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019. Although he regained his titles by outpointing Ruiz in a rematch, Joshua’s stock fell among some boxing enthusiasts. He lost his titles again with consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022. Despite these challenges, Joshua is now set to fight Daniel Dubois at Wembley, with the winner poised to face the victor of the Usyk-Fury rematch later this year.
Speaking to iFL TV, Hearn blasted Joshua’s critics, emphasizing the boxer’s significant accomplishments and positive impact on the sport. “It’s a thing called life. Unfortunately, when you do well in life, you get heavily criticized. There is a huge amount of envy and a lot of miserable people that want to bring you down,” Hearn said.
He urged people to recognize Joshua’s impressive resume and his role as a great role model. “Rather than looking at Anthony Joshua and saying, ‘You got beat by Ruiz, you’re a hype job,’ why not look at the guy’s resume? Look at how he won Olympic gold for Great Britain, look how he has changed the face of boxing and been a great role model,” Hearn added.
Hearn did not hold back in addressing those who constantly criticize Joshua. “If you can’t champion the story of Anthony Joshua, you really are an envious person. In life, you have got winners and you have got losers, and unfortunately, the losers are the ones who wake up every morning, moan, be negative, and don’t want people to do well. Nothing good comes out of negativity. I can’t understand it.”
As Joshua gears up for his fight against Dubois, Hearn’s passionate defense highlights the ongoing challenges Joshua faces both inside and outside the ring. With the potential to become a three-time heavyweight champion, Joshua’s journey continues to be one of resilience and determination, despite the criticism from detractors.
