Hearn and Warren have been working together for the past six months, and former two-time heavyweight champion ‘AJ’ has provided his thoughts on their friendship.

Anthony Joshua believes that Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren have a “fake” friendship.

Matchroom Boxing promoter Hearn and Queensbury Promotions director Warren had not spoken face to face in 15 years, but that changed in December when they co-promoted the Day of Reckoning event. Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh forced the promoters to put their feuds aside and work together on the same program, which they have done ever since.

Joshua gave a critical appraisal of their forced friendship to The Stomping Ground, saying, “It’s good, but it’s pretty fake to me.” What is my opinion, and does it matter? They don’t particularly like each other, but they get together to conduct business. Money speaks, and it does so in a simple way. “It’s good business.”

Warren won the Queensbury against Matchroom 5vs5 event in Saudi Arabia earlier this month, giving him the upper hand over Hearn. Hearn stated that, while he did not want to collaborate with Warren when the idea was originally proposed to him, their friendship is now genuine.

“I can get why he [Joshua] says that because he’s not really been around us,” Hearn said. “I said to Frank earlier it was like six or seven months since we first met backstage and that was fake because we were told by His Excellency to get on with it, work together and stop the arguments. We said ‘Alright then’, reluctantly.

“The relationship from there has blossomed. It’s become very enjoyable and it’s very beneficial for our companies but more importantly our fighters. Not just me and Frank, but Spencer Brown built this card up until midnight last night [Tuesday]. We’ve all done a great job.”

Joshua hopes to become a three-time heavyweight champion when he faces newly minted IBF champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on September 21. Dubois was elevated from interim to full champion after Oleksandr Usyk relinquished the title and therefore lost his uncontested status.