EDDIE HEARN praised Anthony Joshua’s “incredible” comeback and has tipped his fighter to knock out Tyson Fury.
The pair could fight before the end of the year, according to promoter Hearn.
Before that Joshua could face the winner of Filip Hrgovic and Daniel Dubois as AJ continues his comeback after losing back-to-back fights against Oleksandr Usyk.
He has now won four fights in a row with his last an explosive knockout victory against Francis Ngannou.
Piers Morgan suggested that win has seen Joshua’s stock rise, claiming he has gone from being unable to sell a bus ticket to being capable of creating a £100million fight.
Hearn agreed and told Morgan on Piers Morgan Uncensored: “It is the fight that made him, once again, the hottest commodity in boxing. And we are very fickle as a sports community of ‘he’s finished’.
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“And to be fair, the one incredible thing about AJ, when he lost to Oleksandr Usyk in the second fight and he broke down in the press conference in tears, I felt he was a long, long way back.
“I felt, not done, but I felt like his best days may be behind him. And this is the one and most important thing, in life – sport, business, whatever it is, consistency.
“If you are consistent and you work as hard as you can, and you have ability. You are unbeatable.
“And the one thing that he’s always done, throughout his whole career, and even since that moment with Oleksandr Usyk is stay consistent. Keep working, keep searching for the answers and if the ability is still there, you will get back.
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Will AJ vs Fury actually happen?
SunSport boxing correspondent Wally Downes Jr answers the big questions around Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury finally facing each other…
Could we finally see Fury vs AJ this year?
Simply: Yes.
Before the Saudi takeover of boxing – spearheaded by Turki Alalshikh, would we have seen Fury vs Francis Ngannou, AJ vs Ngannou, Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker, Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn working together and shaking hands for photos?
Simply: No.
The rules, rankings, sanctioning bodies and broadcast and promotional disputes are all irrelevant when this much money is thrown at prize fighting.
How would it work?
It feels like the winner of Fury vs Usyk on May 18 will fight AJ as soon after as possible.
There is a rematch clause in the current deal for Britain’s WBC champ and Ukraine’s WBA, IBF and WBO king to meet and decide the first undisputed ruler for 25 years.
But it seems certain the belts will fragment afterwards – with a string of mandatory challengers due their crack at the four separate belts – so the clamour for AJ vs the winner might be bigger than the demand for a rerun for fewer belts.
Where would it happen?
It feels like every major fight is now going to happen in Saudi Arabia.
But don’t rule out a potential Fury vs Ngannou clash taking place at Wembley stadium.
It seems like the Saudis are keen to eventually host shows in the UK and that fight, at the home of football, would be some debut.
If Usyk topples the Gypsy King then the hype for him to face AJ for a third time will be far less intense.
Why this time?
It feels like we have twice come close to seeing the clash but there were simply too many hurdles and disputes in the way – similar to the way AJ vs Wilder still hasn’t happened.
But with Alalshikh now making Hearn’s Matchroom and Warren’s Queensberry play nice and letting Sky Sports, TNT and DAZN share the shows, there is far less to fight over in the boardroom and loads on to battle for in the ring.
And if Fury beats Usyk and rightfully demands a huge percentage of an overdue Joshua meeting, then the Saudi’s have the cash and the clout to hand him 99 per cent of the pie – to massage his ego and bank balance – and hand AJ as much extra dough as needed to keep everyone sweet.
Who wins?
If Fury sets up an AJ clash by beating Oleksandr Usyk – the mathematics and stats make it clear only a maniac would back Joshua to triumph in the all-English clash.
Usyk dominated AJ over two one-sided fights, on foreign soil.
The Watford man has enjoyed a spike in form and respect since linking up with new trainer Ben Davison but a 20st 6ft 9in Fury – who has just slayed the gap-toothed southpaw – would be almost invincible.
But in any major football derby or cup final the formbook is often aimed out of the window. And perhaps a rejuvenated hungry AJ could be too much for an undisputed and fulfilled Fury to handle.
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“The comeback, mentally, the comeback has been incredible. To a point now, where I feel he is unbeatable in the ring.”
Morgan then asked Hearn if he thought Joshua was capable of beating the Gypsy King, and he replied saying: “Every day. I have always thought he would beat Tyson Fury, but right now I have absolutely no doubt he knocks Fury out.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
