Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn has declared that a potential showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury would be the biggest fight in boxing history, insisting it’s a bout that must happen before both men retire.
Hearn Calls It a “Must-Have” Clash
Speaking in an interview, Hearn admitted it would be a major disappointment if the all-British heavyweight clash never materialized.
“It would be a real shame if Tyson and AJ never fought. We’d always regret it. This fight shuts down the country—it’s the biggest fight in boxing,” he said.
Hearn compared the potential clash to other iconic British fights like Froch-Groves, Joshua-Klitschko, and Benn-Eubank, but emphasized that Fury-Joshua would be on another level entirely.
Joshua and Fury’s Recent Form
Joshua has been out of action since suffering a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois a year ago, while Fury last fought in December 2024, losing back-to-back decisions to Oleksandr Usyk.
Following those defeats, Fury announced his retirement, but Hearn remains optimistic about a comeback.
“The good news is AJ is recovered, injury-free, and ready to start training. He’s motivated and hungry to get back into big fights,” Hearn said. “And from Fury’s social media, you can see he’s still training. That gives us hope.”
Joshua Turns Up the Heat
Joshua recently mocked Fury as “dippy” on social media, a move Hearn says proves how much the former unified champion wants the fight.
“AJ’s usually held his tongue, but now he’s thinking, ‘why not?’ He wants this fight, and so do we,” Hearn added.
Tune-Up Fights Before the Showdown
Hearn suggested both fighters could take warm-up bouts in early 2026 before meeting in a blockbuster all-British clash. “We’re ready to go, ready to talk about it. AJ wants Fury, and the fans have been waiting for years,” he said.
Legacy at Stake
Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis also expressed interest in the fight, calling it a matchup “the whole world wants to see.”
When asked if a loss to Joshua would damage Fury’s legacy, Hearn dismissed the concern.
“Legacy comes from fighting everybody and giving fans great fights. AJ wants to be remembered as the guy who faced them all—and he definitely wants to knock Fury out,” he said.
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