A clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has long been framed as a potential blockbuster and the biggest bout in this generation of British boxing. Undefeated Fury (32-0-1) has dominated almost all the major competition in the heavyweight division, while ‘AJ’ (24-2) was a seemingly invincible force until he lost to Andy Ruiz in 2019.
Joshua, 32, has now suffered two defeats in his last four fights and lost his IBF, WBO, IBO and WBA (Super) titles to Oleksandr Usyk in October 2021. A rematch of that bout is expected to take place in July, but Fury may never get his chance at a unification fight after suggesting he planned to retire following Saturday’s TKO win over Dillian Whyte.
If it were up to Matchroom founder Barry Hearn—who counts AJ among his stable of stars—Joshua would beat Usyk to reclaim his belts before facing Fury in a winner-takes-all match-up. That being said, the boxing public would watch a bout between the pair in their droves even if there were no belts on the line, and Hearn has said it’s too big an opportunity for ‘The Gypsy King’ to ignore.
“Obviously I’m a Joshua man and I get criticised all the time because I think Joshua beats Fury,” he told BBC Breakfast on Wednesday. “Joshua is my friend and also my client so I am biased. But I am biased and that’s why people like me in their corner because I only know black and white, I’m either with you or against you.
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