Before Anthony Joshua lost to Andy Ruiz Jr. and Oleksandr Usyk, he was among the biggest draws in the heavyweight division. His losses took him down on a journey of self-reflection. However, after four consecutive wins following his comeback from a second loss to Usyk, the Brit is back at the top! And Eddie Hearn agrees, highlighting Joshua’s brutal knockout of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in his last fight.

Joshua might have made ‘The Predator’ look like a rookie, but it’s important to remember that Ngannou gave one of the best heavyweights, Tyson Fury, a run for his money when they clashed last year. So, when a reporter from Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing asked him about his thoughts on the knockout, Hearn expressed nothing but praise for Joshua. 

Eddie Hearn claims, “AJ’s stock just rocketed”

Despite Joshua’s extensive and impressive resume, fans and pundits alike believed Ngannou would pose a threat to Joshua. However, Joshua babied Ngannou and put him to sleep in the second round of their fight. So, Hearn claimed, “I think nothing resonates worldwide like a knockout, especially a knockout like that.”

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The English promoter went as far as to suggest, “I mean, AJ’s stock just rocketed, and he’s back in his position, in my opinion, as the biggest draw in the sport.” And seeing the sheer brutality of the knockout, Hearn thinks, “The Knockout [went] viral. [Went] into every news and media outlet, every social media account, and it was one of the most brutal [knockouts].” Moreover, according to a statement from Ngannou, he had expected a knockout loss but never dreamt it would have gone down like it did. 

Francis Ngannou claimed he was falling asleep before the Anthony Joshua fight

Despite taking Fury to the edge of upset, Ngannou could not replicate a square inch of his success against Anthony Joshua. Though he did not want to make any excuses, ‘The Predator’ claimed he did not feel his fullest in the leadup to the fight during a recent Instagram live. “I wasn’t seeing it happen like that, but I always knew it could happen,” said Ngannou.

Also Read: Anthony Joshua’s Sure Shot Title Fight Halted in Hopes of Facing Usyk vs. Fury Winner

He further added, “I remember being in the locker [room] trying to warm up, and bro, it wasn’t going. I was falling asleep. I’m sweating, but I’m falling asleep.” Despite that, Ngannou suggested that people he fought in the past might have felt the same way, so he did not want to diminish Joshua’s success. 

With that said, Anthony Joshua is really back at the top. If he manages to win against the winner of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk, slated for April 18 in Saudi Arabia, Joshua will ascend to a legendary status within the division, becoming the world champion for the third time.  Do you think Anthony Joshua is fully back? Let us know in the comments section below.

Read More: Anthony Joshua Reveals Lesson Learned From Francis Ngannou Fight