Eddie Hearn hits back at Deontay Wilder after being accused of ‘milking’ Anthony Joshua

Joshua lost his IBO, IBF, WBO and WBA (super) heavyweight titles after being knocked down by Andy Ruiz Jr four times en route to a first professional defeat

Eddie Hearn has hit back at Deontay Wilder after the American accused the promoter of “milking” Anthony Joshua and forcing him into a rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr that he does not want.

Joshua lost his IBO, IBF, WBO and WBA (super) heavyweight titles after being knocked down by Ruiz Jr four times en route to a first professional defeat.

In the wake of that shock upset, Wilder claimed his British rival was “mentally broken” and criticised Hearn for “milking” the heavyweight star.

Hearn has since responded to Wilder’s barbs, claiming the American has used Joshua’s success to promote his own profile.

“Wilder’s spent his whole career using Joshua’s name to build his own profile and he’s still doing it,” Hearn told talkSPORT.

“Wilder should have a picture of Anthony Joshua up in his lounge that he walks passed every day and says ‘thank you very much for making me very wealthy’.

“There’s no pressure on Wilder... I’m in New York and no one knows who he is.”

Wilder was quick to take to social media after Joshua’s defeat in New York, and didn’t hold back.

“He wasn’t a true champion,” Wilder said. “His whole career was consisted of lies, contradictions and gifts.”

He subsequently turned his criticism to Hearn, saying on Wednesday: “Hearn has manipulated people from the get-go.

“I told Hearn ‘you are milking him’ and everything I said has come true to this point.’

“This man has said so many different things. We ain’t listening to what Matchroom says. We only want him to do what’s best for him and his career, not Matchroom.

“I don’t see how you can’t get it at this point. I don’t think it’s gonna happen. Did you see what just happened? This man is mentally broken. He quit. Joshua quit in that ring. To a challenger.”

Joshua will face Ruiz Jr again in either November or December, after a rematch clause written into the contract for the first fight was exercised by Hearn earlier this week.