FRANK WARREN has slammed rival promoter Eddie Hearn after he claimed Anthony Joshua is not interested in any of the world heavyweight title belts.
The 32-year-old Brit failed in his bid to become a three-time champion on Saturday night as Oleksandr Usyk beat him via split decision in Saudi Arabia.
Each of Joshua’s last 12 bouts have been for a version of the world heavyweight title – a run which stretches back to April 2016 when he beat Charles Martin to claim the IBF crown.
Now he is preparing to return in a non-title fight after losing to Usyk on two separate occasions.
And AJ’s promoter Hearn has claimed the belts were becoming a burden on him, insisting he will be happier now they are gone.
He told iFL TV: “He’s held on to 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.
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“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.”
Joshua reacted angrily to losing in Saudi as he threw Usyk’s Ring magazine and WBA titles out of the ring after the result was read out.
And Warren, who promotes Tyson Fury, has rubbished Hearn’s comments by claiming AJ and his team have always been interested in the belts.
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He said: “Of course they were interested in the belts, I mean what bulls*** is that? That’s what it is, it’s bulls***.
“He was emotional. I think Joshua was maybe a bit embarrassed about what happened in the ring, at the end of the day he’s lost his fight.
“He fought better and showed more heart in the second fight than he did in the first. You can only do your best, be proud that you did your best.
“He was in there with a guy who’s got better skills and is the better fighter.”
Fury now looks set to return to the ring to face Usyk for the undisputed title at the end of the year.
