With official word coming from all sides that a heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury has been signed for later this year, Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn talks about finally getting the fight over the line, why it’ll be a massive success even despite naysayers saying it’s come too late, and more. Check out some excerpts of what he had to say below.
Hearn on Joshua vs Fury being set for later this year
“I was always convinced we’d get there. I can’t tell you I thought we’d take this long. But just really pleased. I mean, obviously we have
to take care of business in July, which we expect to do, and you’re just going to see the biggest fight in boxing. It still makes me laugh people say ‘well, I’m just not that interested in it’ — it’s like, shut up! It is going to be huge. It is going to stop the country, it’s going to stop the boxing and sporting world by the time this comes around.
“And, again, ‘I’m not interested in it anymore’ — shut up. Trust me, you’ll be interested in this. Both guys will be firing for this and it’ll be a megafight and it’s a delight to get it over the line. Can’t wait.
“AJ’s in a great place. He’s really excited, he’s training hard. He’s got a real clear schedule now, from now ‘til end of the year and I think it’s a good road map to push into 2027 and try to fight for a world heavyweight championship, because that’s what he wants.”
On who chose Kristian Prenga as AJ’s next opponent
“No one really wanted [AJ] to fight a 50/50 fight for many reasons. Number one, because he’s coming back from injury and that incident. And two, I don’t think Turki Alalshikh really wanted him to be in that kind of fight given what’s at stake for the Tyson Fury fight. So we wanted someone who’s game, who would cause a little bit of a threat. I don’t think Pregna’s an elite heavyweight but he’s a decent heavyweight, got a massive knockout percentage record, he’ll be coming to win.
“So we got to do a job on him. And if you don’t do a job on someone like Prenga, you’re not going to be beating Tyson Fury. And that’s the aim, to go out there and do a job on Pregna and get the momentum to go back into another camp to beat Tyson Fury.”
On if he knows where AJ vs Fury will take place for certain
“No. We kind of left our meetings with the understanding that Wembley would be the place. And Wembley should be the place. But also, availability is not always perfect. But that’s down to the man paying the bills, and that’s Turki Alalshikh for this one. So we signed up for a contract which basically says ‘it is where it is.’ But I know Turki will want to bring this fight to the UK because it’s that historic, and obviously he’ll be tremendously thanked for that, and hopefully that’s where it will be.”
On how much bigger AJ vs Fury is compared to other British events like Eubank Jr vs Benn and Froch vs Groves
“10x bigger. By a mile. Tell me a bigger fight in UK history than Fury vs AJ? You’re talking about two generational — arguably #1 and #2 in terms of biggest names in the sport, certainly the biggest names in British boxing and have been for years and years. It is absolutely monstrous. Everybody in the country knows who AJ and Fury are, every kid, every grandma, every auntie, every uncle. It’s just a massive, massive event.”
