Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has described the potential showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury as “the most important struggle in boxing.”
Talking to Sky Sports activities, the Matchroom chairman admitted he would “kick himself” if the 2 heavyweights by no means met within the ring.
“It will be an actual, actual disgrace if Tyson and AJ by no means fought. I don’t actually have many regrets, however I feel we might all the time kick ourselves if we by no means noticed that struggle. It’s the most important struggle in boxing,” Hearn mentioned.
Joshua has not fought since struggling a knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in 2024, whereas Fury has been inactive since back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, after which he briefly introduced his retirement. Regardless of that, Hearn is assured the unified heavyweight champion will return.
He added: “You may’t even evaluate something we’ve completed to this point; Froch-Groves, AJ-Klitschko, Benn-Eubank. That is utterly completely different. It shuts down the nation. Two nice fighters, two completely different personalities, and two people the British public have wished to see face one another for thus lengthy. Inform me a much bigger struggle in boxing? It doesn’t exist.”
Joshua not too long ago known as Fury “dippy” on social media, an indication Hearn believes displays the 35-year-old’s starvation for the struggle.
“AJ has all the time held his tongue, however now he’s like, ‘why not?’ He desires this struggle. We wish the struggle, we’re prepared to speak. This isn’t goading Tyson Fury, it’s simply info,” Hearn mentioned.
Based on Hearn, Joshua is eyeing a tune-up struggle in early 2026, whereas Fury might also need one earlier than talks of a blockbuster conflict can actually start.
“The excellent news is that AJ has recovered, injury-free and able to begin coaching camp,” Hearn mentioned. “He’s fired up and nonetheless has loads to offer. And when you have a look at Fury’s social media, he’s coaching once more, which provides me hope. I feel folks round him really feel like he’ll return.”