Promoter Eddie Hearn has been accused of protecting his man Anthony Joshua from one dangerous fight.
It’s fair to say that Joshua is now nearing the end of his career. The Brit is in his mid 30s and has had plenty of hard bouts and great success along the way.
‘AJ’ became world champion for the first time in 2016 when he knocked out Charles Martin inside two rounds, then unifying with wins over Joseph Parker and Wladimir Klitschko. The first setback came with an upset loss to Andy Ruiz Jr in June 2019, but was corrected with a rematch victory in December of the same year.
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Joshua was again derailed in 2021 and 2022 when he lost back-to-back fights with Ukrainian slickster Oleksandr Usyk. Following four wins to get himself back in title contention, he was then stopped by Daniel Dubois inside five rounds in September in a failed attempt to become three-time world champion.
It recently emerged that Joshua was rumoured to be in talks with Martin Bakole about a huge fight in Africa. However, in a new post on X, Bakole’s trainer Billy Nelson accuses Hearn – who has guided the ‘AJ’s career since he turned over from the Olympics – of making up excuses so it doesn’t happen.
“I was bombarded with is Martin v AJ happening in Africa in October last night. My reply was: His excellency wants it, Martin wants it, AJ says he wants it, but big Eddie seems to be sh***ing his pants making up every excuse to avoid it. Big Ed knows”
Hearn and Joshua have always prided themselves on taking on all comers and, of the top heavyweights, his record does stand up well to that fact.
Though Joshua has often spoken about his interest in fighting in Africa, a contest with the in-form Bakole who knocked out hot American prospect Jarod Anderson in his last fight would be dangerous indeed.
He may instead wait for another chance to fight for a world title, while Bakole will take on Efe Ajagbe in an IBF eliminator next time out, a win guaranteeing him a shot at champion Dubois.
