Hearn recalls looking like ‘a f***ing tosser’ at AJ’s loss to Ruiz and thinks it’s helped him prepare Warrington return
EDDIE HEARN was perfectly prepared for Josh Warrington’s crucial comeback after looking like a prize penguin for Anthony Joshua’s shock first loss.
The Matchroom boss chose AJ’s American debut against Andy Ruiz in June 2019 to wear a tuxedo to a fight for the first time and felt the fashion faux pas backfire.
The long-way back that Watford’s heavyweight king took has helped Hearn and Warrington cope with the crushing blow suffered against Mauricio Lara in February and plan the rebuild.
Warrington, 30, has already praised a video call with Joshua during his darkest hour for helping him out of the pits of despair.
And, ahead of Saturday’s rematch in front of 20,000 Headingley fans, Hearn revealed how he learned to roll with the punches.
Hearn recalled: “After selling old Madison Square Garden with AJ, that night I decided to wear a bow-tie and dinner suit.
“I had never ever done that before for a fight but, I thought, for AJ at a sold-out MSG I should. And I look back at pictures now and think ‘what a f****** tosser!’
“I walked the whole way home to New York’s Soho after the fight, about 3am I was bumping into British fans who wanted photos and answers and I just wanted to be left alone.
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“But dealing with nights like that helped me learn how to handle night’s like Josh Warrington’s loss.
“Josh’s was harrowing because no-one was there and we heard everything. MSG was berserk so we didn’t hear it.
“But the lows hopefully lead back to huge highs and when Josh wins on Saturday we can hopefully look back at the last few months and just say ‘what a ride’.”
Hearn reached out to AJ after Warrington’s violent loss at an empty and silent Wembley arena and put the two fallen soldiers in touch to share war stories.
The Leeds icon says the chat dragged him back on the road to redemption and Hearn believes it helped continue AJ’s learning process and that he will reach out again before the first bell.
Hearn said: “Josh asked if AJ would have a chat because he was struggling.
“But AJ struggled after the Ruiz loss and this felt even bigger because it was a horrible defeat in a silent and empty arena.
“I had never asked AJ to do anything like that before but within an hour of swapping numbers AJ called him. I called to thank AJ but I think he enjoyed it.
“Both of their nights went wrong, after problems for both in their build-ups. But both took immediate rematches and got the wins.
“I am sure AJ will message him before the fight because you have to talk about these things.”
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