By Shaun Murphy-
Anthony Joshua may have chinned his camp, had any of them tried to intervene when he went on an emotional monologue after his defeat to Olegsander Usyk, his promoter has said.
After Joshua lost a split decision to Olegsander Usyk in Saudi Arabia, he embarrassingly dashed the belts on the floor, and left the ring, confronting anybody who acted or commented in a way he did not like. The Londoner had hoped to become a three wight world heavyweight champion and regain the belts he lost to Usyk, who was also crowned world champion as a cruiser weight.
Joshua’s speech was unnecessary and futile. He not only ruined a moment which was meant for the winner, he tried to explain his failure of losing to the better man by stating that he did not start boxing at the age of five like many elites, but was living a life headed for jail. The speech was largely criticized, especially after the former wold champion somewhat apologetically told Usyk he was stealing the show from him.
Critics later said that his team should have intervened and saved Joshua from himself- a move Hearns says would have been disastrous.
Hearn told MailOnline that there was nothing he or any of the AJ camp could have done to prevent or stop the outburst. He said: ‘I still find it hilarious when I hear people saying his team should have jumped in during his interview,’ he said. ‘At that point, you’ve got to let him do his thing. If you jump in, he’ll probably end up chinning you, and the whole thing will end up even more embarrassing. At that point you have to let him say his piece”.
The idea that Joshua may have chinned his team had they intervened may reveal a level of arrogance that needs to be knocked out of Joshua. No sportsman is beyond correction, but those who earn incredible amounts of money, and have a large fortune like Joshua, can potentially become too big for their boots.
Arrogance and the display of egos are best put into action in the ring during a fight, not after the fight is over.
A system needs to be in place to prevent such disgraceful acts of non sportsmanship shown by Joshua, and the British Boxing Board needs to step in and set rules that prevent fighter feeling free to take the Microphone and act like small gods.
Traditionally, boxers are interviewed after fights with a microphone pointed towards their mouth, not put in their hand as seems to happen often these days. The new practise fuels egomania among fighters just because they have won a fight and earn lots of money.
Only Tyson Fury deserves to be able to hold a microphone after a fight, because he is the best in the world and routinely sings after each fight. Losers should definitely never be given unfettered access to a microphone after a fight, and neither should winners.
‘The press conference was really good for him, because you saw a slightly calmed down guy just showing a lot of emotion. He’s fine now. And I think actually getting that emotion out was a good thing, because I feel like it’s been bubbling inside him.’
Hearn said he plans to get Joshua out in December against a top 15 opponent, then possibly against Dillian Whyte in 2023. Joshua has up until now fought just once a year, not sufficiently active, similar to many other heavyweights in the division. A number of heavyweights fight more than once, but at the top of the division where monetary rewards are at their highest, heavyweights have for a while tended to fight just once a year.
Tyson Fury fought twice in 2021 within an eight months period, and knocked out Dillian Whyte last April ,six months after defeating Deontey Wilder in an action packed 11 round war.
Fury is now reportedly in serious training to face Olegsander Usyk for a unification fight early next year, though the possibility of a December date is being explored, and would be better for Fury.