“I’ve never seen him so with so much clarity about what he’s doing, where he is, and what he wants to do,” said Eddie Hearn to iFL TV.

Hearn said Joshua is openly discussing goals beyond the July 25 fight with Kristian Prenga, including Tyson Fury and another run at the heavyweight championship.

“He wants it more now than ever,” Hearn said about Joshua. “You don’t understand the work this man’s putting in.

“What do you think he’s doing it for? A laugh? No, mate. You don’t put yourself through what he’s putting himself through day in day out for nothing. He wants it bad.”

Hearn also talked about Joshua’s habits outside the gym, saying he sometimes avoids comfort and luxury because he does not want to get soft mentally.

“He’s training harder now than he’s ever trained before,” said Hearn. “He wants it more now than when he had nothing. That’s a sign of a winner. That’s a sign of a true competitor.”

AJ is scheduled to return against Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Hearn said Joshua looks mentally different compared to previous years and believes he is enjoying the competition again instead of treating boxing like an obligation late in his career.