Eddie Hearn has given an insight to his thoughts on the collapse in negotiations for a fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury – and even admitted to not being devastated about what happened.
Speaking to TalkSport, Hearn conceded that going straight in against Fury after back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk may not have been ideal for his fighter.
“Listen, I don’t mind saying, AJ’s just coming off a defeat, he wanted December 17, but we agreed to December 3, he would have had to get back into the gym immediately, which he was going to do. ”
“I don’t sit here today, as someone who represents Anthony Joshua, devastated that fight didn’t happen.”
“He wanted to take it, so I was all in, but it was a very quick turnaround for him in a fight of that magnitude.”
Hearn’s comments will do little to dispel criticism that’s came his way from Fury’s team, with promoter Bob Arum saying last week that he felt Hearn intentionally sabotaged negotiations to prevent the fight from taking place.
Fans await confirmation of Joshua’s comeback opponent, with his return to action now looking likely to be in early 2023. A date towards of the end of December had originally been aimed for, however this now seems to be off the cards.
American heavyweights Chris Arreola and Gerald Washington had been linked with the fight, however Hearn ruled both out as potential opponents today, claiming they had never even been considered.
It now seems that a rematch with Dillian Whyte is the front runner, providing ‘The Bodysnatcher’ can get past unbeaten American, Jermain Franklin, next month.