Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has described the potential showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury as “the biggest fight in boxing.”
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Matchroom chairman admitted he would “kick himself” if the two heavyweights never met in the ring.
“It would be a real, real shame if Tyson and AJ never fought. I don’t really have many regrets, but I think we would always kick ourselves if we never saw that fight. It’s the biggest fight in boxing,” Hearn said.
Joshua has not fought since suffering a knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in 2024, while Fury has been inactive since back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, after which he briefly announced his retirement. Despite that, Hearn is confident the unified heavyweight champion will return.
He added: “You can’t even compare anything we’ve done so far; Froch-Groves, AJ-Klitschko, Benn-Eubank. This is completely different. It shuts down the country. Two great fighters, two different personalities, and two individuals the British public have wanted to see face each other for so long. Tell me a bigger fight in boxing? It doesn’t exist.”
Joshua recently called Fury “dippy” on social media, a sign Hearn believes reflects the 35-year-old’s hunger for the fight.
“AJ has always held his tongue, but now he’s like, ‘why not?’ He wants this fight. We want the fight, we’re ready to talk. This isn’t goading Tyson Fury, it’s just facts,” Hearn said.
According to Hearn, Joshua is eyeing a tune-up fight in early 2026, while Fury may also want one before talks of a blockbuster clash can truly begin.
“The good news is that AJ has recovered, injury-free and ready to start training camp,” Hearn said. “He’s fired up and still has a lot to give. And if you look at Fury’s social media, he’s training again, which gives me hope. I think people around him feel like he’ll return.”
