Eddie Hearn slams boxing fans for not giving Anthony Joshua more respect…as he takes a dig at Sky

Eddie Hearn has claimed Anthony Joshua deserves more respect and said that Sky wouldn’t be showing boxing if it wasn’t for the 32-year-old Brit.

The Matchroom promoter, who has been with Joshua since he made his professional bow back in 2013, is in Saudi Arabia ahead of Saturday’s megabucks rematch between Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk.

Joshua’s fate hangs in the balance as he takes on the Ukranian at the Jeddah Superdome and their blockbuster bout adds to a long list of iconic heavyweight rematches.

Eddie Hearn, currently in Jeddah, believes Joshua deserves more respect from boxing fans

The bout is worth $100m, with the fighters reportedly set to be splitting the money

AJ is out for revenge after losing his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts in an unanimous points decision at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in September last year, with the 32-year-old completely out-boxed in the original fight.

And Hearn, who saw his charge sign a mammoth broadcasting deal with DAZN last year, reported to be worth £100million, which saw him leave Sky Sports in the process, believes Joshua’s former broadcast partner is indebted to the boxer for the company’s success with the sport.

He said: ‘I don’t like the fact that with everything Anthony Joshua’s done for this sport, a lot of people want to turn their backs and under appreciate the guy’s resume and the role that he has played for all of us.

Hearn also took a dig at Sky after the boxer signed a £100m broadcast deal with DAZN last year

‘Without Anthony Joshua, me, Matchroom, we wouldn’t have had our success.

‘A lot of people wouldn’t be in a job at Sky and I’m telling you now, I’m not even sure Sky would be doing boxing so let’s give this young man the credit.

‘Without this guy, there wouldn’t be YouTube outlets interested in the sport, you wouldn’t have the businesses flying out around the world.

‘He has made boxing the size it is and we need to be thankful for this guy and give him that respect.

‘He’s a great individual, he’s a competitor, he’s a winner and I take it personally when I see people switch and make little comments because they’re thinking about their company rather than thinking about a man who has helped their company so much.’

Saturday’s fight is worth $100m (£83m), with the fighters reportedly set to be splitting the money.

DAZN will broadcast the bout in more than 190 territories, while Sky Sports will show it in the UK and Ireland after paying an enormous £23m to do so.