Eddie Hearn has slammed suggestions that Anthony Joshua looks too “small” ahead of his upcoming clash with Oleksandr Usyk.
The pair will square off on September 25 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for Joshua’s unified heavyweight title.
Joshua has been pictured sporting a much trimmer physique recently in the build-up to the fight, which has led some to suggest that he has lost too much size.
But Matchroom Boxing promoter Hearn has hit out at the claim saying “he doesn’t look small to me”.
Hearn told Pep Talk UK: “He looks massive. He looks like an absolute unit, to be honest with you.
“His legs look huge, and powerful, and fast. With them, it’s never a case of: ‘I’m going to drop weight. What am I weighing today?’”
The promoter added that the difference in physique comes down to a change in how Joshua trains for his fights.
He continued: “The difference in the training over the years [for Joshua] is that he’s gone from a guy that was lifting weights and doing a lot of power stuff to a guy that is boxing.
“More sparring, more time on your feet, more time in the ring, more time on the pads, more rounds on the bag.
“That’s what’s going to get you fitness over time. Before, he was extremely explosive, but after the tank was empty, how do you go through those championship rounds?
“When he boxed Dillian [Whyte], when he boxed [Charles] Martin, and when he boxed [Wladimir] Klitschko, he didn’t really know what he was doing.
“He was just big, strong, and tough with attributes and good fundamentals. Now he’s well-rounded and knows and understands the game. That makes you so much more difficult to beat.”
The WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion usually posts pictures of himself training in the gym.
However this week he uploaded footage and snaps of himself out on a run to his Instagram account.
Cardio remains an important part of Joshua’s routine as he recently revealed his intention to reduce the size of his frame.
“I do look at my weight but I’m not trying to make weight because I’m a heavyweight,” Joshua told Sky Sports.
“I tailor my training. I am getting a lot of experience, I’ve been fighting good fighters for a long time, I’ve studied them and learned about their training camps.
“I’ve learned how to condition my body for specific fights. I’m looking trim for this fight.
“I’m fighting a guy who is a 12-round fighter. So it would be silly of me to go in there bulky with my muscles screaming for oxygen.”
