Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, hopes Tyson Fury will defeat Oleksandr Usyk within the rematch and change into undisputed heavyweight champion in order that AJ can struggle him in an enormous match-up.
Hearn desires Fury to win, however he is aware of deep down it’s unlikely to occur. His imaginative and prescient of a mega-fight between Fury and Joshua isn’t trying good.
Pricing the Dud
Hearn says a struggle between Joshua and Fury can occur, even when the Gyspy King loses the rematch with Usyk. That may taint the struggle within the eyes of boxing followers, particularly in the event that they’re charged by means of the roof to buy the Fury vs. Joshua struggle on PPV.
Who of their proper thoughts would need to buy a Fury-Joshua struggle after a washed-up Fury coming off one other beating with Usyk?
In the event that they peddle a Fury-Joshua struggle underneath that situation, with Fury coming off of back-to-back losses, they should value the struggle so it’ll promote. Hearn and Fury’s promoter might want to value it accordingly. Making it a freebie would work, however that ain’t going to do it.
Fury’ Washed Up at 35?
It might be higher if Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) avenged his loss to Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs), however that is perhaps slightly an excessive amount of to hope for as a result of the 35-year-old Gysky King appeared outdated, washed, and wanted to be saved by the referee within the ninth spherical.
Watching the referee twice get in Usyk’s manner through the ninth spherical made it clear that he wouldn’t have the ability to knockout Fury. In a rematch, it could be a unique referee, and it’s unlikely we might see a state of affairs the place Fury could be protected when Usyk begins placing it on him.
Hearn’s Hedging His Bets
“We’re only some days off the again of it. It takes time to simply accept defeat. It takes time to understand your accidents and lick your wounds. So we’ll see how issues play out,” stated promoter Eddie Hearn to iFL TV about Tyson Fury.
As you possibly can see, Hearn’s already backpedaling, speaking about Fury needing time to lick his wounds and settle for his loss. That’s code for Hearn being concerned that Fury goes to get crushed once more by Usyk, and that’ll mess up his imaginative and prescient factor of a match between Tyson and AJ.
“When you’re Tyson Fury, you’re going to need one other crack at Oleksandr Usyk,” Hearn continued. “It was a fantastic struggle. The rematch can be an enormous struggle. For AJ, he desires to change into a three-time world heavyweight champion.
“So, I feel he wants to remain targeted on whoever he fights subsequent,” stated Hearn about Anthony Joshua. “He’d like to struggle Fury subsequent. He’d like to struggle Usyk. If not, it could possibly be the winner of Hrgovic-Dubois subsequent week. He’s prepared for all comers.
“It takes lots out of each males, particularly on the ages they’re, significantly Oleksandr Usyk,” stated Hearn when requested how a lot the Fury vs. Usyk struggle took out of each fighters.
“Each of them gave lots that night time and doubtless misplaced slightly little bit of their soul within the course of, however each are nice fighters and two true warriors.
A Pipe Dream Fades
“I do. Whether or not Fury or loses the rematch, I feel we’ll see that struggle,” stated Hearn when requested if he believes the Fury vs. Joshua struggle will nonetheless ultimately occur.
“Clearly, we needed Tyson Fury to win. I do suppose he can win the rematch, and that might be the perfect situation,” stated Hearn, hoping Fury will defeat Usyk within the rematch so the Fury-Joshua struggle can occur.”
Hearn stubbornly believes the Fury-Joshua struggle will occur, no matter what occurs with the rematch with Usyk. If Fury is crushed, the struggle with AJ gained’t be the large one which Hearn had hoped it could be. It might be the equal of an old-timer’s superstar match.