EDDIE HEARN has opened up on the injury which has prevented Anthony Joshua from renewing his rivalry with Daniel Dubois early next year.
The Watford warrior was on course for a do-or-die rematch with Dubois, who brutalised him in their September slugfest at Wembley, on February 22.
GETTYAnthony Joshua suffered a devastating fifth-round KO loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September[/caption]
PAA rematch was in the works for February 22 but injury has left AJ incapable of making a quick return to training camp[/caption]
REUTERSPromoter Eddie Hearn has poured cold water on talk of the former champ’s injury being a serious one[/caption]
But a new timeline for the domestic dust-up is currently being explored due to nagging injuries to the former two-time heavyweight champ.
But promoter Hearn insists it won’t be long before Olympian will be fighting fit again, telling The Stomping Ground: “There’s no major injury.
“Every fighter has niggles in camp, especially when you’re a heavyweight who trains every day and spars really hard.”
“There’s nothing that’s going to be a long-term problem.
“For a turnaround after a five or six-week break after a defeat like that, it’s just not possible to be a hundred per cent.”
Joshua, 35, has yet to give any indication of the injury he’s currently dealing with.
Although Hearn has hinted he may be suffering from a minor issue in one of his biceps.
The Matchroom Boxing chief said: “There’s no tear in the bicep, there’s just wear-and-tear that means he cannot go into a training camp with the same intensity that he would want to.”
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Joshua was dropped a staggering four times by IBF king Dubois on his way to suffering a fifth-round KO defeat.
AJ was champing at the bit to exact his revenge, so much so he was willing to push through his injury.
But he ended up being overruled by his team and Hearn, who revealed to Boxing News: “We had a very awkward call.
“He wanted to fight on February 22 and basically was told that there is no way you can start camp and be 100% for February 22, physically.
“There’s nothing major.
“There’s two or three issues that he had a little bit in camp but also after the fight as well.
“And they said you need to come back in May-June and he didn’t want to do it.
GETTYEddie Hearn admits Anthony Joshua’s career could be over if he loses to Daniel Dubois again[/caption]
“He wanted to fight on February 22 but unfortunately we kind of had to overrule him on this and say no because we can’t afford not to get this right.
“If you get beaten again by Daniel Dubois you have to seriously consider your future.
“We got one last chapter in this career that we need to make sure we get 100% spot on.
“So when he comes back in May or June or whenever that’s gonna be you got to be physically mentally 100% ready.
“He wants to rematch Daniel so bad.”
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