Eddie Hearn on Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua: “It’s the richest fight ever”
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn claims that the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua will be the “richest fight ever,” believing it to be worth a £200 million showdown at Wembley Stadium, making it the biggest fight in boxing history.
45-year-old Hearn told Piers Morgan: “It’s worth north of £100m for each guy. It’s the richest fight ever, the biggest fight ever. When you talk about the Rumble in the Jungle and you talk about Thrilla in Manilla, nothing will come close to Joshua against Fury.
“Two of the biggest heavyweights in the history of the sport, in the biggest moment for the sport that anyone can remember.
“Not just a generational fight, but a fight across the entire history of the sport, since the Queensberry rules were introduced.”
The Gypsy King Tyson Fury accepted his first defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in May after the pair fought a close battle which the Ukrainian just pipped on a split decision.
The 36-year-old from Morecombe is preparing for a December 21 rematch with his only conqueror, which takes place back in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Joshua was defeated for a fourth time in his career in September to underdog Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium, stopped in the fifth round after multiple earlier knockdowns.
Whilst there are plenty of options available to him, the two-time world champion is likely to request the rematch with fellow Londoner, Dubois.
AJ and Fury have been on a collision course for many years, with their rivalry first starting almost 15 years ago in 2010.
Fury had put the call out to prospective boxers to meet him in the ring at Finchley Boxing Club back in 2010, saying if anyone who could knock him out would be awarded a Rolex watch.
The Gypsy King was 11-0 at the time, having just beaten John McDermott for the English heavyweight title.
Joshua reflected back, “This guy called Tyson Fury, I had no idea who he was, comes out into the gym and the word on the street was that Tyson said he is the best heavyweight and that if anyone knocks him out, they get his Rolex watch.
“I’m looking at the cash, I said, ‘Rolex yeah? Let’s go!’
“The bell goes, we go at it. I think that we sparred about three or four rounds.
“Even Tyson actually, he did an interview promoting the fight saying: ‘There is this kid called Anthony Joshua, I sparred him down at Finchley Boxing Club and I will tell you what, he is s*** hot.”
If Fury evens the score with Usyk, then the trilogy decider will be paramount, but the Morecombe man may wish to set up an undisputed clash with the IBF titleholder, Dubois, who is also his Queensberry stablemate.
But, if AJ does get his wish for a second crack at Dubois, and the title changes hands, then that would be the key moment to make Joshua vs Fury for all the marbles, and would certainly be the biggest sporting moment in British boxing history.