Barry Hearn Says Fury Versus Joshua Could Be Next

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

English sporting events promoter Barry Hearn, the founder and chairman of promotions company Matchroom Sport, has now come forward in the midst of the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic with an all-United Kingdom titular spectacular heavyweight proposal. Tyson Fury could put his World Boxing Council world heavyweight title belt on the table against the other world heavyweight titleholder, WBA-WBO-IBF and IBO world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, with the winner to fight Deontay Wilder afterwards. Wilder would have to agree to step aside from his exercising of the mandatory rematch clause to fight Fury a third time. Or it just could be the rematch will not take place anytime in 2020..



Hearn returned home after surgery following a minor heart attack earlier this month, according to his boxing promoter son, Eddie. A Pay-Per-view British extravaganza boxing card with Fury versus Joshua as the main event would certainly turn heads and put boxing back on the map, as soon as social isolation ends. If and when remain a question mark, but one cannot fault Barry’s optimism.

Recently, on the PBC Podcast, Wilder revealed a biceps injury incurred during his second bout with Tyson Fury required surgery. Now recovering from the operation, Wilder is unable to able to train at the moment, perhaps giving Barry Hearn some extra fuel on the fire to promote a Fury versus Joshua mega bout.



Hearn told Betfair “I think we have an excellent chance of seeing Fury versus Joshua (next). I would say it’s probably 50-50 that it’s this year. If it’s not, then it’s a 95-5 (95 percent chance in) early 2021 (we stage the Fury versus Joshua fight). I’m hearing (I heard) Wilder has an injury, and isn’t going to able to train until (at least) May (2020). Let’s take a hypothetical (situation). If the world came back say September 2020 (from isolation protocols now in worldwide place), everyone’s ready to go, and Wilder’s not ready (to fight) or doesn’t want the fight (with Tyson Fury right away), then I think Joshua would drop (his mandatory defense against Kubrat) Pulev, and go for Fury, because that’s the (big money Tyson Fury) fight he wants more than anything else (right now).”



Fury, 30-0 with 21 knockouts, Wilmslow, United Kingdom, and Anthony ‘A.J.’ Joshua, 23-1 with 21 knockouts, Watford, United Kingdom, might not be the best of matchups, given Joshua’s loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. dropped his stock a bit, forcing him to win a rematch with Ruiz. Fury versus Joshua would generate more $$$ electricity than Joshua fighting Pulev.

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Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert is the Head Boxing Correspondent for Real Combat Media Boxing since 2013. Robert is also a photographer and ringside reporter for the RCM Tri State region which includes NJ, NY and PA. Robert conducts exclusive interviews, provides historical boxing articles and provides editorial ringside coverage of major boxing events. You can contact or follow Robert on Facebook and by email at [email protected].