Eddie Hearn criticises fan who mocked Anthony Joshua at live press event
EXCLUSIVE: ‘That boy will never achieve what AJ has’: Eddie Hearn criticizes fan who mocked Anthony Joshua at live press event…and insists British boxer ‘inspires him every day’
- A boxing fan mocked Anthony Joshua at a press event on Wednesday afternoon
- Eddie Hearn has defended AJ saying that fan could never achieve what he has
- Hearn also said that the British boxer inspires and motivates him on a daily basis
Eddie Hearn has defended Anothony Joshua after a fan decided to mock him during a Q&A session on Wednesday afternoon. He claimed that AJ is an “amazing individual” who “inspires” him daily.
The Matchroom promoter took part in the Q&A following Katie Taylor’s public workout ahead of her highly anticipated title fight with Chantelle Cameron on Saturday night.
Ariel Helwani hosted the event where Hearn answered questions alongside former world middleweight champion Andy Lee and lightweight contender Gary Cully – who fights on the Taylor card.
One fan deviated from the topic of Taylor’s fight with Cameron and aimed at Joshua instead. He said, “Can I have one of Anthony Joshua’s belts since he no longer needs them?”
Hearn was quick to shut down the young fan by saying, “I think if you could achieve a hundred millionth of what Anthony Joshua has achieved you would be a very lucky boy.”
Eddie Hearn has defended Anothony Joshua after a fan decided to mock him during a Q&A session on Wednesday afternoon – claiming AJ is a ‘great individual’
The Matchroom promoter took part in the Q&A after Katie Taylor’s public workout ahead of her highly anticipated title fight with Chantelle Cameron on Saturday night
The Matchroom promoter was disappointed with the fan’s comment and said people should focus on ‘celebrating’ AJ’s success as they could ‘never achieve what this guy has done’
Mail Sport spoke to Hearn shortly after the incident to discuss it in more detail. The Matchroom promoter expressed disappointment at the fan’s comment, saying people should focus on “celebrating” AJ’s success.
Hearn told Mail Sport: “It’s just weird, isn’t it. We are a weird breed, where you have a young man, who came from a community that didn’t give him many opportunities and chances, who found boxing, who changed his life, who went out and won Olympic gold had a rough time.
“He won the world heavyweight championship, he lost it and he regained the world heavyweight championship and someone criticizes him or says what it feels like to not have a belt anymore.
‘He [the teenager than mocked AJ] was just a young child and they were children being children, but that same attitude is the same in adults as well. It’s like you could never accomplish what this man has done.
“Why don’t you respect him and why don’t you let him motivate you. We should be embracing people, especially from our country, who have gone out and changed their lives and paved the way, created opportunities and inspired the next generation.
“AJ is a real greatness and a great individual. It’s a crazy world we live in. Much of that is due to social media. We should be happy with people who achieve great things. He inspires me.
“He’s been a big part of my life. He’s a role model to me. I could never do what he did and that kid from last night will never do what he did. Use that as inspiration to show that anything is possible.’