Road to Ruinz

HEARN: ANDY DEFEAT WAS BOOST TO AJ

BARRY HEARN believes Anthony Joshua’s shock defeat to Andy Ruiz was the best thing that ever happened to the boxer. And ahead of his proposed dream fight with Tyson Fury later this year, Hearn has tipped a hungrier and wiser AJ (left) to prove he’s the best in the business. Joshua, 31, and the Gypsy King agreed a two-fight deal in June last year but the generation-defining battle to become the first undisputed British heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis has hit hurdles.

But WBO mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk looks like he will now have to fight Joe Joyce before getting a shot at the heavyweight crowns, while Fury’s proposed rematch with Deontay Wilder has yet to materialise. That paves the way for the superfights that boxing fans are salivating over.

And Hearn (right) said: “When you look back at AJ’s career we’ll look back at the Andy Ruiz fight, that defeat was the best thing that ever happened to him.

“It made him, quite rightly, realise that he’s still learning on the job and that he’s got more improvement to come. He has that hunger to be the very best he can be. I think the best he can be is better than anyone else out there in the heavyweight division.” AJ’s unexpected loss to Ruiz Jr nearly two years ago was his only loss in 25 professional fights.

But even though Fury, 32, remains unbeaten in 31 contests, Hearn believes AJ will showcase his greatness when the duo finally clash. “You find out about yourself when you lose rather than when you win,” added promoter Hearn, 72, who was recently awarded an OBE for services to sport. “You judge yourself by failure and not by success.”