Eddie Hearn has revealed another reason why the Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury negotiations fell through. The British promoter claims that not giving Joshua his preferred date of December 17 was a big factor in keeping the fight from going overboard.
Joshua was initially offered on 12 November at Old Trafford when the all-British matchup in early September was first discussed as a possibility. However, Hearn responded with Joshua’s preferred date of December 17.
The boss of Matchroom Boxing claimed that Fury already had the date booked at Wembley Stadium, but Fury denied this fact. Instead, he presented two alternative options: November 26 at Wembley Stadium or December 3 at the Principality Stadium.
Joshua’s side reluctantly accepted the latter but, according to Hearn, the lack of time off after his loss to Oleksandr Usyk was not ideal for the Watford powerhouse.
“It’s probably a little bit of everyone’s fault,” Hearn said. talkSPORT. “It is a very complex situation for both teams, with the television networks. Listen, I don’t mind saying AJ is coming off a loss, he wanted December 17th, but we agreed on December 3rd.
“He would have had to go back to the gym right away, which he was going to do. I don’t sit here today, as someone who represents Anthony Joshua, devastated that the fight didn’t happen. He wanted to take it, so he was all in, but it was a very quick turnaround for him in a fight of that magnitude.
Joshua is expected to return to the ring in January or February of next year against a “credible top 15 opponent.” “I think he will fight in January or February, early next year,” Hearn added.
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“The problem with AJ is, in my opinion, that he is coming off two Usyk losses, from the disappointment and the emotional implosion after the fight… I think he should come back with two standard opponents in the top 15, good. solid fights, but he really doesn’t want it.”
The current favorite for Joshua’s comeback is Dillian Whyte, who was defeated by Joshua in 2015 in a British and Commonwealth heavyweight title clash. He will face Jermaine Franklin on November 26 at Wembley Arena in the first fight since his knockout loss to Fury six months ago.
Provided he gets through his next challenge, a rematch could be made for early 2023, but if he’s unavailable or beaten by Franklin, then Otto Wallin is understood to be in the running as well.
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