Eddie Hearn, promoter for Anthony Joshua, explains that his boxer - even after last weekend's defeat - is still the biggest draw in the heavyweight division - and that includes his domestic rival Tyson Fury.
Last Saturday, Joshua suffered the second defeat of his pro career when he was outboxed over twelve rounds by Oleksandr Usyk, who now holds the WBO, IBF, IBO, WBA world titles.
And the undefeated Fury, who holds the WBC belt, will face Deontay Wilder in a trilogy fight on October 9 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Even with the recent setback. Hearn backs Joshua as being the biggest game in town in boxing's biggest weight class.
"[Joshua is] 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," Hearn said to IFL TV.
“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."
Joshua will now head to a rematch with Usyk - which is being targeted for the first quarter of 2022.
Hearn expects his boxer to achieve a new goal - by getting revenge and becoming a three-time world champion.
"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," Hearn said.
