“Be Selfish”- Eddie Hearn Tells Anthony Joshua Ahead of Training

Anthony Joshua will face Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev, the IBF’s mandatory challenger and the former European amateur super-heavyweight champion at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on June 20.

The restored heavyweight champion will defend his reclaimed WBO belt against the Bulgarian, a fight according to Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, will eventually at some point lead to facing another Briton, Tyson Fury.

Hearn had earlier revealed that he is ready to ink a deal between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury provided both come through their immediate tests.

The 30-year-old world IBF, WBA, WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion outboxed Andy Ruiz Jr in a December rematch in Saudi Arabia to reclaim the world titles Ruiz had taken from him six months earlier in a huge upset at Madison Square Garden.

Hearn sounded promising while talking to Sky Sports about Joshua-Pulev match.

“You will see one of the best AJ performances- the shackles are off from the Ruiz Jr 2 fight in terms of being disciplined and following a game-plan,” Hearn said.

“He will fight more aggressively in his upcoming fight,” Hearn added.

Kubrat Pulev, famously known as “The Cobra”, had also earlier challenged for the IBF world heavyweight title in 2014, which he lost to Wladimir Klitschko on a fifth-round knockout. The stage was then set for both Joshua and Pulev match but the latter pulled out of that arrangement due to injury.

Hearn later revealed to the British television sports channel about how Joshua is preparing for his upcoming match against Pulev.

“The mindset is the same and has been the same since day one, with a couple of tweaks. The Ruiz Jr defeat taught him not to be influenced by outside noise. Stay focused, look after yourself, be selfish,” Hearn said.

He further added that they are not thinking too much about an all-British title unification fight against Fury and currently their head is on the title defence against Pulev.

“The Pulev fight is the focus. You make plans, for me, it’s only about Pulev.”

Hearn also spoke about the trouble they earlier had for finding a suitable sparring partner for Joshua against Ruiz Jr, which eventually led to Joshua’s first defeat.

“It’s a lot easier for Pulev than it was for Ruiz Jr, who was an unorthodox style.”

“Pulev? More straight up and down. Great right hand, technically good from an amateur perspective. He’s been around, has boxed Wladimir Klitschko and been unbeaten for a long time,” he added.

Eddie Hearn on the impact of coronavirus outbreak

Hearn talked to Sky Sports about the coronavirus outbreak and its impact in boxing, and in particular, about Joshua-Pulev’s fight.

“It doesn’t sound imminent by the sound of things, but I guess it depends on how bad things get.”

He further explained how a boxing match cannot be staged behind closed doors and remains hopeful that all things could be contained ahead of the busy schedule.

“For me, it’s very difficult to behind closed doors. This is a sport which could really impact the livelihood of the athletes and talent.”

“What will be, will be. Right now, business as normal and we go ahead with an incredible schedule that we hope will go ahead in full,” he added.