By Edward Chaykovsky
The time is nearly here. In less than two weeks, a record crowd of 90,000 fans will pack Wembley to watch heavyweights Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko collide for supremacy.
Joshua (18-0, 18 KOs), viewed as the future of the heavyweight division, will attempt to unify the IBF, IBO, WBA world titles by handing Klitschko his second consecutive defeat.
Klitschko, 41 years old and inactive since November 2015, is motivated to reclaim his position as the kingpin of his weight class.
Joshua has stopped all of his opponents inside of seven rounds - and only Dillian Whyte and Dominic Breazeale have been able to last that long.
"Looking great, very relaxed, and we’re going to have 90 thousand at Wembley and I think Klitschko, just throwing out a few mind games now, I’m excited for fight week. I think he’s going to have to get in Joshua’s head and I think he’ll try. This is a 50/50 fight," Hearn told Scoop Media.
"You’ve got a guy who is fearless in Anthony Joshua, against a guy who has got all the experience in the world, its his 29th world heavyweight title defence, and Anthony Joshua 19th fight. He should be applauded taking fights like this but the gamble is on. Two of the heavyweight belts and to become in the biggest star in world boxing."
Klitschko, who dominated the entire division for over ten years, suffered a shocking defeat in his last fight when he lost a twelve round unanimous decision to huge underdog Tyson Fury.
There is a lot of pressure on Joshua, who captured Olympic gold in the 2012 London games. Hearn has been watching Joshua in training camp and he likes what he sees. He feels the moment and the huge stage will not overwhelm Joshua.
"I saw in the Charles Martin fight, although it looked easy on the night, that was a fight for the world heavyweight title before his time. I don’t think the atmosphere is going to get to him, the occasion’s going to get to him, he won gold for Great Britain at the London Olympics where he had all the expectation on him. He thrives off that. He’s got his game plan, he believes he can knockout Wladimir Klitschko and he’ll be trying to do it on April 29," Hearn said.