Eddie Hearn Urges Joshua and Fury to Settle Inevitable Clash

Promoter Eddie Hearn believes a highly anticipated boxing match between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is unavoidable. Despite Fury’s recent hints at returning from retirement, his focus appears to be on a trilogy bout against Oleksandr Usyk. Hearn argues that before either fighter can realistically pursue a third match with Usyk, they must face each other.

During an interview with Sky Sports, Hearn emphasized the competitive nature of both Joshua and Fury. “The only person that’s beaten Tyson Fury is Oleksandr Usyk, and he’s beaten him twice, fair and square,” Hearn stated. He noted the significance of their past encounters, mentioning that while the first fight was more one-sided, the second was intensely competitive.

Joshua finds himself in a challenging position following consecutive defeats to Usyk. Hearn remarked, “AJ would love to fight Usyk again, but he understands it’s not a fight he can call for just yet because he’s coming off a defeat.” Similarly, Fury’s recent losses make a trilogy fight with Usyk less likely. Hearn pointed out, “The trilogy being 2-0 down is not really something that happens a lot.”

Hearn further expressed skepticism about the public’s interest in a Fury-Usyk matchup, stating, “No one’s interested in Fury against Usyk, no one’s interested in AJ against Usyk; they’ve seen it twice and it was the same result both times. People are interested in AJ against Fury.” He questioned why both fighters have not yet committed to making this clash a reality, urging them to act sooner rather than later.

Usyk’s Future and Joshua’s Comeback Plans

Usyk has recently confirmed his intention to box for another two years, rather than retire after one final fight. This announcement keeps the possibility of future bouts against both Fury and Joshua alive. Hearn praised Usyk’s performance against Daniel Dubois, remarking, “He’s in his absolute pomp, isn’t he? If he wants to carry on and he’s happy, why should he retire?”

Hearn acknowledged that the motivation for Usyk will play a crucial role in his future matches. He said, “Is he motivated to fight Joseph Parker? Is he motivated to fight Moses Itauma? If he is and wants to continue testing himself, good luck to him.” He added that the winner of a Joshua-Fury fight could potentially challenge Usyk later, but emphasized the need for the Joshua and Fury match to take precedence due to its demand.

For Joshua, the immediate plan includes a comeback fight tentatively scheduled for February 2024. Hearn did not rule out the possibility of Joshua taking a less pressured fight before the end of this year. “It makes sense,” he said, highlighting the importance of building Joshua’s confidence and momentum. “Every fight seems to be mega-pressure for AJ, but this would be a low-key chance to blow the cobwebs off.”

As the boxing world eagerly awaits the outcome of these developments, Hearn’s strong belief in the necessity of a Joshua-Fury showdown adds another layer to an already complex narrative in heavyweight boxing.