Eddie Hearn wants Anthony Joshua to face Tyson Fury next, regardless of the outcome of Fury’s rematch against Oleksandr Usyk on December 21.
(Credit: Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing)
Hearn says if Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) is beaten by WBA, WBC and WBO heavyweight champion Usyk, a fight between him and Joshua would be a “big one”. Fury could face Joshua in a voluntary defense of his three titles if he is victorious.
It is logical for Hearn to make a fight between Joshua (28-4, 23 KOs) and Fury because there is a lot of money on the table from Saudi Arabia.
With all the money Joshua can get for a fight against Fury, he’d be crazy to ignore it. Joshua is rich, with an estimated net worth now at £200 millionbut adding another $100 million would be worth it. The most Joshua would have to worry about fighting Fury is slapped to the canvas.
AJ would have a better chance of defeating the 36-year-old Fury than in a rematch against IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois. It would be foolish of Joshua to take the risk of fighting Dubois again after what happened on Saturday night. Dubois stopped Joshua in the fifth round at Wembley Stadium, and it was hard to watch.
“My advice is not to do anything until December 21 – the Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury rematch,” Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports Boxing about his plans for Anthony Joshua’s next fight. “If Fury loses, he could set up a big fight against Joshua, if Fury wins he could take a voluntary defense against Joshua. It’s still the biggest fight in the division by a mile.”
Things could look shaky for a Fury-Joshua fight if Usyk knocks Fury out on December 21. It will look bad if Fury and Joshua are both coming off KO losses when they meet in 2025. The British boxing public will not tolerate a fight between their two heroes if both are coming off KO losses.
Fury, 6’8″, has the size to go the full 12-round distance against Usyk in a losing effort, especially if a referee can help give him a timeout when he’s injured. Last time out, Fury was saved in the ninth round by a referee who gave him an eight count as he was on his feet after absorbing 20 consecutive unanswered shots from Usyk.
