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Tyson Fury was still icing the black eye Francis Ngannou gave him in Saudi Arabia when Eddie Hearn began his verbal onslaught over in the US.
Everyone expected Hearn, as a bitter rival of the Gypsy King’s promoters Frank Warren and Bob Arum, to stick the boot in on the Brit’s below-par performance against the boxing novice.
The reverse would have happened if it was one of his star names scraping past an MMA fighter.
READ MORE: Tyson Fury shows off giant black eye after controversial victory over Francis Ngannou
READ MORE: Oleksandr Usyk tells Tyson Fury 'fight me in December or vacate your belt'
But what was surprising was the Matchroom chief’s bizarre claim that the Saudi show was evidence that Fury should face his man Anthony Joshua next.
Hearn was speaking after O'Shaquie Foster had stopped Eduardo Hernandez for the WBC super-featherweight title so maybe it was the rush of adrenaline from that or the jetlag from being in Mexico.
Whatever the reason, what the promoter came out with was nonsense.
He also seems to have forgotten that he had promised former world champion Joshua would take on Deontay Wilder.
That fight with the ex-WBC heavyweight champion was supposedly ‘locked in’ for December until a switcheroo in Saudi saw the money vanish from the people behind it and over to those backing Fury against Oleksandr Usyk.
But Hearn had still insisted Joshua would face Wilder and there would be a deal for Wembley or Las Vegas to take the place of the Middle Eastern petrodollars.
Yet here he was telling us that Fury fumbling around Ngannou was evidence that Joshua should get a shot at the WBC title instead of an undisputed clash with Usyk. It was some stretch to make.
Joshua is in no position for a world title shot just yet. He’s had comeback wins over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius but he needs a statement win before he can call out Fury.
That was supposed to be Wilder. A clash between two men looking to fire themselves back into contention at the top of the division.
It seems perfect as both are big hitting heavyweights with their own vulnerabilities that will have the trash talk to sell out a stadium or get Vegas to stump up the money to pack out the Strip.
Yet Hearn wants a Fury fight? What is the point of calling out Fury when he knows quite well that the Gypsy King is in a legally binding agreement with Usyk and Saudi Arabia that they will meet twice?
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Suppose it's easy to make noise about a fight when you know it can’t happen.
Why is Joshua also needing a ‘tune up’ clash before they can consider Wilder but he’s now apparently ready to go straight in with Fury?
Joshua can’t afford to wait around to see if Fury beats Usyk as there will likely be a rematch between the pair so both are out of action for 2024.
Then there is a strong chance Fury will just retire having earned enough money to ensure multiple generations of his family never see a poor day.
Is Joshua going to just pick off lesser opponents or the belts that may become vacant in the meantime?
None of it makes sense. What does make sense is fighting Wilder. The Bronze Bomber’s team remain willing and waiting for the fight having been promised a lucrative offer for a Las Vegas showdown. It has yet to arrive.
Wilder took to social media to call out Joshua last week. There’s been no response from the London 2012 Olympic gold medallist.
While Hearn failed to address it in his multiple interviews after Fury’s clash with Ngannou. The name Wilder is now suddenly off his lips.
It would be a shame if it doesn’t happen but Hearn needs to answer why it won’t when it makes the most sense out of any bout for the British heavyweight star.
- Anthony Joshua
- Deontay Wilder
- Eddie Hearn
- Tyson Fury
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