Eddie Hearn signed a lifetime deal with Anthony Joshua in 2021 – but now it seems his arch rival Frank Warren holds the keys to the star’s career.
The shootout, held in Saudi Arabia in June between British promoters, involved ten fighters, five bouts, with the winning captain earning double points.
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Arsenal fan Warren, 72, beat his 45-year-old opponent – who recently wore a Spurs top – 10-0, winning all five encounters.
And ahead of Saturday’s AJ vs Daniel Dubois bout, Hearn claimed the Wembley bout alone was worth 20 points.
The sum of all this is a 30-0 rout for the red-faced Hearn.
It was a bad night for Joshua and it was also a bad night for Hearn, who needs a positive story for his upcoming Netflix doc-series following his Matchroom stable.
Joshua must now hold on to hopes of a rematch with Dubois, or a comeback against Joe Joyce or face British champion Fabio Wardley.
Hearn had suggested Joshua would use the rematch clause to fight Dubois again.
However, when asked if there was such a provision, Warren said, “No. I don’t think there is.”
“They can have it if they want, I have no problem with it.”
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And Hearn later changed his stance on the rematch clause, saying only that Joshua has one fight left on his Riyadh season contract, which could be against Dubois.
Another potential opponent is British sensation Moses Itauma, 19, who is willing to take on anyone.
But guess what, which promoter guides these guys’ careers? Yes, it’s Warren.
Much of Hearn’s success has been based on the players from London 2012 – led by A.J. – whom he brought on board.
Hearn and Joshua have had an incredible journey together, with the pair earning millions, breaking records and winning titles.
But the worrying thing is that Hearn has forgotten that Joshua has always been vulnerable to left hooks and right hand strikes.
In amateur bouts, even in bigger gloves and a headguard, he was knocked out by Mihai Nistor and knocked down by Dillian Whyte.
Professionally, White upset him again in 2015 and Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko beat him in 2017, but failed to finish him.
Tubby Andy Ruiz dropped him four times and another Ukrainian star – Oleksandr Usyk – punched him in the face on 72 minutes.
On Dubois’ defeat in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley on Saturday night, Hearn said: “It was probably the only time in his whole career I’ve seen him really hurt.”
“So winning two world heavyweight championships and 13 world championship fights isn’t bad.
“And that was the only time he was really hurt. To the point where he couldn’t get up.
Who is Charlie Parsons on TikTok?‘Are you not entertained? I’m a gladiator’ – What Dubois and Joshua said after brutal fight
Daniel Dubois has shattered Anthony Joshua’s dreams of becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion, writes Wally Downes Jr.
Joshua was stunned Four Dubois retained his IBF belt by scoring a stunning fifth-round knockout in front of a record 96,000 Wembley crowd and millions of TV viewers.
AJ, 34, never recovered after falling in the first round of last night’s Battle of Britain after a huge right hand from Dubois struck him on the chin.
Here is what he said after the fight:
Daniel DuBois
“Are you not entertained? I am a gladiator, a warrior who fights to the end. This is the biggest win of my career. I couldn’t let this opportunity go and now I want to go to the top level of this sport.
“I’ve been on a roller-coaster ride and it’s my time. I’m not stopping until I reach my full potential.”
Anthony Joshua
“No matter how angry I get, it is the way it is.
“I had a fast and quick opponent and I made a lot of mistakes. Credit goes to my opponent and his team.
“We rolled the dice and lost. You know I’m angry, but I’ll stay calm and respect my opponent.”
Frank Warren (DuBois’ promoter)
“It was a phenomenal fight, like Hagler vs. Hearns.
“It was a fantastic fight and everyone saw the performance of a champion tonight.
“Daniel has shown his courage, his skill.
“AJ caught him with a shot at the end and I was worried, but it was a great, amazing fight.”
Eddie Hearn (AJ’s promoter)
“AJ landed a big right hand in the first round and was fighting from the heart.
“He hurt Daniel at the end of the fourth and then again in the fifth but got greedy and went for the right hand and that was all he wrote.
“I’m sure Anthony will exercise the rematch clause.”
“Heavyweights get knocked out all the time. You never want a heavyweight to get knocked out, but this is the first time in his career that he’s truly been hurt.”
Hearn claims that as soon as Joshua shows any signs of mental deterioration, the 34-year-old will be able to defend himself.
The Matchroom mogul said: “You never want to go on for too long.
“But at the same time, AJ is a heavyweight who doesn’t really have a lot of miles on his clock.
“Fighters sometimes need to defend themselves – but AJ is a smart guy. He has a great team of people around him.
“We all know we saw the best of AJ last year. It’s hard to say that just because he has an injury to his chin he can’t do it anymore.
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“But, of course, he’s in the final stages of his career, there’s no doubt about that.”
Hearn’s next chapter is equally interesting. He needs a big win against his rival Warren – and quickly.
