EDDIE HEARN admits Tyson Fury is a top ‘entertainer’ – but insists Anthony Joshua would rather be known as a ‘great fighter’.
The two British boxers are still trying to secure a two-fight deal to unify the heavyweight division in 2021.
Eddie Hearn says Anthony Joshua wants to be known as a ‘great fighter’Credit: PA:Press Association
The Matchroom chief admitted Tyson Fury is an ‘entertainer’Credit: Richard Pelham
Before that both men are due to climb back into the ring before the end of the year.
After Deontay Wilder failed to invoke his rematch clause for a trilogy showdown, Fury is due to face another opponent on December 5.
Unbeaten German star Agit Kabayel has been sent a contract to take on the Gypsy King.
Meanwhile AJ is due to defend the WBA, WBO and IBF titles against Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev a week later on December 12.
Speaking exclusively to Sun Sport, Hearn cannot wait to see the ‘chalk and cheese’ showdown between the two Englishmen.
But he insisted that his Matchroom fighter Joshua is a completely different personality to Fury – which makes the potential clash an even bigger affair.
Hearn said: “I think they are completely different, chalk and cheese. They’re both great fighters.
“I think that’s why it makes the fights so big, not because they’re British world heavyweight champions but they are completely different personalities.
“Tyson Fury, you look at him on the outset and physically he doesn’t look much. You look at Anthony Joshua it looks like he’s been carved out of stone.
“Fury has come back from adversity of drugs, the depression and got himself back in shape when it looked like his career was over.
“Anthony Joshua lost to Andy Ruiz in front of 20,000 people in Madison Square Garden and people wrote him off. He came back and regained his championship. So these are two great fighters, two great people.”
He continued: “Joshua isn’t the one to really shout his mouth off. Fury is an entertainer.
“AJ wants to be known as a great fighter, not entertainer. He wants to entertain the crowds, but he locks himself away and just wants to improve and prepare.
“So I think this is one of the reasons this fight next year is big because the characters are very different.”
One man who Hearn insists is no longer in the title picture is Wilder after his failure to seal a rematch with Fury.
And he is adamant AJ has no interest in facing the now ‘irrelevant’ American after his antics previously when Hearn was trying to get a unification bout between them.
He said: “All we ever received was an email from Deontay Wilder’s hotmail account asking some numbers. We asked for contract details but it was never sent.
“But Wilder and his team are showing true colours. He fought Tyson Fury and lost his belts.
“So he’s now irrelevant in our picture.”
Hearn added: “The only thing Anthony Joshua wants is that final belt, that final part of the jigsaw.
“Wilder had his chance to rematch with Tyson Fury I don’t know what’s happened there.
“To me it’s all very strange, it doesn’t look like that rematch is happening now, which is good news for our fighter.
“Mr. Wilder will have to work his way back up for a shot.
“Joshua’s never shied away from a challenge. His resume is outstanding, he’s a role model to fighters to step up and take up challenges.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk