Eddie Hearn has questioned Tyson Fury’s “common sense” as he again pushed for the long-delayed all-British clash with Anthony Joshua to finally take place in 2026.
Joshua’s promoter admitted he remains laser-focused on delivering the blockbuster showdown next summer, but couldn’t resist taking aim at the unpredictability of the Gypsy King.
“Right now all that’s in my mind in an ideal scenario is to fight Tyson Fury next year. That’s the big focus,” Hearn told Sky Sports.
“From a common-sense perspective the fight has to happen in 2026 but common sense and Fury’s decisions don’t always gel together.
Eddie Hearn has questioned Tyson Fury’s “common sense” as he again pushed for the long-delayed all-British clash with Anthony Joshua to finally take place in 2026
|PA/GETTY
"He’s got to want to come back. It’s a personal decision.”
Joshua, sidelined for over a year following surgery on a persistent elbow problem, has returned to training and is expected to fight again in January or early February.
The comeback will not be against Fury or any of the division’s elite, with Hearn stressing the need for a carefully chosen top-15 opponent to prepare the 35-year-old for one “last roll of the dice.”
“We’ve got to choose carefully for the next fight,” Hearn explained.
“The best way in all of this is just to be honest and say the next fight will be a comeback fight to build into a roll of the dice next summer.
"We want that to be against Tyson Fury. If it’s not, it’s going to be a massive fight.
“We need a top-15 guy. It’s not going to be Fury, [Oleksandr] Usyk, [Daniel] Dubois, all of those top guys.
"We need someone so that AJ can come back in a competitive fight after being out for what will be over a year and get himself ready for what will be one last roll of the dice.
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Tyson Fury retired from boxing earlier this year after losing to Oleksandr Usyk for a second time
| Reuters"A defeat now at this stage of his career would be devastating to those plans.”
Possible opponents include France’s Tony Yoka or the winner of the upcoming IBF eliminator between Efe Ajagba and Frank Sanchez, with Ghana being considered as a venue.
“There’s been no conversations with [Yoka] about the fight but it’s not going to be Fury, Usyk, Dubois, Moses [Itauma], [Joseph] Parker,” Hearn clarified.
Despite his time away, Joshua may still find himself in a strong position to chase titles.
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Oleksandr Usyk currently holds all the belts, but mandatory obligations with the WBO and IBF are expected to force him to vacate at least one in the near future.
“If there was a way to win a world title it would be amazing to see him become a three-time world heavyweight champion,” Hearn said.
Hearn also admitted Joshua’s career is entering its final stretch.
“I always said that 2026 would likely be his last year in the sport," he said.
Anthony Joshua hasn't fought since losing to Daniel Dubois last September
| PA"But now with the delayed comeback, probably [could go till] 2027.
"If he was to get beat in his next fight that would probably be it."