Tony Bellew has rubbished questions marks over Anthony Joshua’s hunger following his loss to Daniel Dubois.
Joshua’s hopes of becoming a three-time heavyweight world champion were dashed after Dubois scored a stunning fifth round knockout to retain his IBF crown at Wembley Stadium last week, a bout Bellew was ringside for.
Some prominent names have advised the 34-year-old to hang up his gloves and questioned whether he has the same desire he once had, referencing former middleweight world champion, Marvin Hagler, who said: “It’s hard to do road work at 5 a.m. when you’re sleeping in silk pyjamas.”
However, former cruiserweight world champion, Bellew believes ‘AJ’ remains as hungry as ever and has quashed these suggestions.
“The last thing Anthony Joshua has is the silk pyjama effect,” the Liverpool man told Instant Casino.
“I’ve been out, I’ve watched him in training camp in Texas with the likes of Derrick James.
“I’ve watched how he works, how diligent he is with his preparation.
“He’s one of the best athletes I’ve ever seen in heavyweight boxing, if not the best as an athlete and a specimen.
“What’s happened is, he’s been shook to his boots in that first round and that right hook would have knocked out a horse.
“To get up and carry on fighting after getting nailed so hard, you’ve seen the stills and the slows on the shot.
“It’s on the button. It’s bang on the button.
“There’s nothing wrong with Anthony Joshua’s chin because he got up.
“No one’s put him asleep.
“He was nailed and it was flush on the chin. And it’s not nice, so I think the ‘silk pyjama effect,’ that’s a tired, easy analogy to give.”
The Watford man has confirmed his desire to continue and was pictured with Saudi Arabian boxing chief, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, whose Riyadh Season brand put on Joshua’s fight with Dubois in front of a record 98,000 spectators.
And according to Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, Alalshikh is keen to see an immediate rematch.
“Our meetings with His Excellency, he wants the rematch,” the Matchroom Chairman told talkSPORT.
“AJ will always want the rematch.
“Daniel wants the rematch too.
“It’s the biggest fight for him and they will fancy it.
“It is a case of going away and talking about, do we go straight into the rematch? And when will it be?”
