Eddie Hearn reckons Anthony Joshua will have an easier time of it this weekend.
The Brit takes to Saudi Arabia for the second time as a pro later this week to rematch Oleksandr Usyk for the unified heavyweight titles, 11 months after he was dethroned by the Ukrainian former undisputed cruiserweight champion at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London last September.
And his promoter Eddie Hearn, who has been in his promotional corner with Matchroom since the former Olympic gold medallist made his debut in the paid ranks back in October 2013, believes he may have it good going into the return against the 35-year-old.
Speaking to Boxing Social this week, the Matchroom promoter said:
“When you’ve shared the ring with him, at least you’ve had that experience, at least you know what to expect.”
“It doesn’t mean you can overcome it, but I feel like it’s a lot easier to fight Oleksandr Usyk the second time around.”
“Because of the whole image of ‘Usyk’, you can out-think yourself and that’s what ‘AJ’ did in the first fight.”
Streaming giant DAZN, to whom Joshua committed his broadcasting future back in June in a groundbreaking deal, will show the fight in the US, as well as more than 190 territories, including Canada, Spain, Germany, Italy, Japan and Poland, while Sky Sports Box Office will broadcast the fight in the UK & Ireland after paying a staggering £23million to do so.
Hearn added:
“You have an idea of what someone is going to do and you’re standing off, waiting and second-guessing yourself, but he’s experienced it now.”
“It doesn’t mean he can overcome it, but I just think it’s easier for someone like ‘AJ’ to get his head around what he needs to do in this fight having experienced 12 rounds with him.”