ANTHONY JOSHUA versus Tyson Fury is the only fight that will make money this year, according to legendary sports promoter Barry Hearn.
The boxing calendar has been put on hold as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
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Tyson Fury is set for the trilogy fight against Deontay Wilder – but that might not happen until the end of the yearCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Joshua is set to defend his WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight title next against Kubrat Pulev – that has already been moved from June 20 to July 25.
Fury, meanwhile, is contracted for the trilogy fight against Deontay Wilder.
That won’t happen until autumn at the earliest as Wilder recovers from bicep surgery.
But the ongoing pandemic threatens putting all future shows behind-closed-doors indefinitely.
Anthony Joshua’s world title defence against Kubrat Pulev has already been moved from June to JulyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Legendary sports promoter Barry Hearn thinks only Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury makes financial sense nextCredit: PA:Press Association
And Barry Hearn, father of Matchroom boss and AJ’s promoter Eddie, thinks Fury vs Joshua should take precedent.
He believes Joshua versus Pulev with no crowd won’t sell PPVs, while income from Fury versus Wilder III wont be able to justify the respective fighter’s purses.
Speaking to iFL TV, the 71-year-old said: “Maybe the better deal is to say to Pulev and Wilder, ‘we’ll pay you to sit on your backside and wait for the outcome of a fight [between Joshua and Fury] with a guarantee of getting the next fight’, that might look attractive.
“When you put all these things together in the mix, the one fight you know you can sell for loads of money, where everybody gets paid, more than their previous fight, is Joshua vs Fury.
“What about rolling those dice, Tyson Fury thinks he can beat Joshua, Joshua thinks he can beat Fury.
“They both know they’re going to earn far more money from that fight than any other fight.
“And it’s relatively straight-forward to put together, and there’s no danger of people not getting paid. That makes a bit of sense.”
Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren are fielding offers from around the world to host the potential undisputed clash between the two champions.
But Fury, who sensationally handed Wilder his first ever loss with a seventh-round KO in February, doesn’t seem fearful of his fellow Brit.
The Gypsy King recently described AJ as “a big cuddly baby”, and added that he “one hundred per cent is not dangerous at all”.
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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
