EDDIE HEARN has explained why Anthony Joshua threw Oleksandr Usyk’s belts out the ring during his meltdown.
Before conducting his bizarre speech, AJ was visibly frustrated at losing to the Ukrainian for the second time chucking two of Uysk’s belts which some have deemed disrespectful.
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has opened up on Anthony Joshua’s reaction to losing to Oleksandr Usyk
Anthony Joshua lost to Oleksandr Usyk via a split decision
Anthony Joshua had to re-enter the ring in Saudi Arabia after storming out
His promoter Hearn has shed some light on what was going through the British fighter’s head at the time.
He told IFL TV: “He’s held onto those belts for a long time, and those governing bodies have charged him a lot of money and put a lot of mandatories on him.
“And I think he’s lost a lot of faith in the system and I think he started to not be interested in fighting for belts anymore.
“I think he just wants to fight for enjoyment and to challenge himself.
“Of course he wanted to be undisputed, but a lot of that was frustration. He left the ring because he knew, ‘I’m gonna do something stupid’ and he forced himself, ‘I can’t [just leave].’
“So he went back in the ring and he gave a speech, which, he was a little bit out of it. But it was just pure emotion. That was just from the heart.”
Joshua, 32, still had not regained control as he began his baffling speech.
In a post-bout interview he had relaxed and admitted to letting himself down: “I acted out of pure passion and emotion and when not controlled it ain’t great.
“I love this sport so, so much and I’ll be better from this point on.
“I had two fights, one with Usyk and one with my emotions and both got the better of me.
“It was just from the heart. I was mad at myself. Not at anyone, just at myself. Like anyone, when you’re angry you might do stupid things, so I was mad.”
Usyk has swept Joshua aside twice and has now got Tyson Fury in his sights in a hotly anticipated clash.
Fury’s promoter Bob Arum has claimed it could be the biggest fight since Muhammed Ali faced Joe Frazier.
As for Joshua, a SunSport exclusive revealed there is still a chance he could fight Fury but he must rebuild his career.
