Anthony Joshua’s boxing future takes major U-turn as Eddie Hearn says he now sees ‘plenty’ more fights for AJ before retirement

Eddie Hearn has changed his stance on Anthony Joshua’s future.

The Matchroom Boxing chief insisted earlier this year that AJ doesn’t have long left in the sport.

Hearn was there with AJ - now he's opened up about Fury's clash with Ngannou

Hearn was there with AJ – now he’s opened up about Fury’s clash with Ngannou

However, Hearn has made a major U-turn as Joshua gears up to face Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title on September 21.

AJ himself gave an interview earlier this year in which he claimed he was entering his final couple of years in boxing.

However, asked how many fights the 34-year-old has left, Hearn told talkSPORT.com: “At the moment, plenty.

“Everything changes after every fight, but I think I’ve never seen him enjoy boxing so much.

“The preparation, the team. It’s simple but effective. I think he’s really found his rhythm with Ben [Davison] and the camp there.

“And I think if you look back after the Oleksandr Usyk fights you might have said, ‘How many more fights? Three? Five?’

“Well we’ve had four since then and now we’re saying five [more] still.
It’s always fight by fight.”

Providing Joshua comes out of his clash with Dubois unscathed, then HE Turki Alalshikh is targeting the long-awaited all-British showdown with Tyson Fury.

Joshua opens up as a 1/4 favourite to defeat ‘Triple D’ and become a three-time heavyweight champion.

But Hearn insists it’s not a foregone conclusion.

“This is a very dangerous fight, but it’s a great fight,” he added.

Hearn claims Joshua is enjoying boxing more than ever

Hearn claims Joshua is enjoying boxing more than ever

“And as it gets closer I think people are starting to realise.

“People in boxing know what a great fight it is, but I think the general consensus is, ‘Oh, AJ’s a massive favourite.’

“I think he is a favourite, but if you look at people’s assessment within boxing.

“Obviously, they’re much more skewed towards it being a 50/50 than maybe the man on the street who doesn’t know a great deal about Dubois and the run that he’s on.

“I think they’re both in absolutely prime form but I do make Anthony the favourite in the fight.”