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Eddie Hearn admitted that Anthony Joshua is keeping Tyson Fury out of his mind as he prepares to defend the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles against Kubrat Pulev on December 12 – but Matchroom Boxing boss believes the WBC champion may also go for it. Joshua his immediate priority.
For a long time, it seemed that both Joshua and Fury would defend their respective straps on separate dates in December, each breaking their own absence from the ring due to the COVID-19 pandemic and taking another test before going on a collision course with one. . another in 2021, in a mega-war that could potentially unify the entire division.
However, while Joshua’s obligation against Bulgarian Pulev is all set, Fury was unable to find a satisfactory date to complete the trilogy with Deontay Wilder, the man he dethroned for the WBC crown in February.
At one point, it felt like a fight between Fury and Agit Kabayel was almost a done deal. However, that also failed and Fury was cited for giving up fighting again this year.
In an interview with Sky Sports this week, Hearn explained that if Fury doesn’t compete close to when Joshua does against Pulev, he expects him to simply wait until they can focus on the unification clash.
“Listen, it’s all over for them,” he said. “We have the dynamics of the agreement in place.
“I don’t want to hear [from] Fury: “No, I’m thinking of fighting in March or April.” Because? Go straight to the AJ fight. It will be the same time frame.
“Listen, Fury doesn’t want to have a little fight. They couldn’t even get the money together to give him a fight in December, so let’s give him a lot of money.
“Fury wants to fight AJ, indisputably, and AJ wants to fight Fury.”
Hearn added, however, that Joshua himself simply can’t think of Fury’s fight until after he overtakes Pulev, whose only previous defeat was in his only other challenge for world heavyweight gold against Wladimir Klitschko in 2014.
Discussing Fury with Joshua before the fight with Pulev, Hearn continued: “One; I wouldn’t do it, and two; if I did, he’d tell me to shut up, because we know that on June 1, 2019, the world was turned upside down. Madison Square Garden when he lost to Andy Ruiz Jr and all everyone was talking about was “how do we get the Wilder fight, how do we get the Wilder fight? Keep trying to get the Wilder fight! “
“Before you know it in this match, especially in that division, anything can turn around. He did it against Ruiz Jr. He was still focused on Ruiz Jr, but everyone was thinking about the bigger picture. Not one person on the pitch is talking of Fury. “
If Joshua actually keeps his headlines against Pulev, it looks like news of the big fight with Fury could be confirmed sooner rather than later.
Both sides agreed on the financial details of a two-match contract earlier this year, but the Pulev fight on December 12 remains the last hurdle before concrete talks can begin on any other aspect of the meeting.
“I just know that if he’s dealing with Pulev, the only fight, the only job I have is to do that fight with Fury right away,” Hearn said.
“He wants that fight badly, but he also knows he’s fighting one of the best heavyweights in the world against Pulev. Great amateur experience, just a pro defeat to Wladimir Klitschko. He’s beaten people steadily over the years.
“It’s dangerous, it’s tough, it’s durable, but honestly from what I’ve seen from Anthony Joshua, I really think you’re going to have a hell of a performance on December 12th.”
Joshua vs Pulev airs live Saturday 12 December on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN everywhere with a DAZN subscription.
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