Eddie Hearn aims Anthony Joshua dig at Tyson Fury and Usyk with Saudi Arabia remark

On Feb 18, 2023

Eddie Hearn claims Tyson Fury has failed to secure the mega-money deal he wants in the Middle East because he is not fighting Anthony Joshua.

WBC king Fury is set to face undefeated Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk in a historic undisputed heavyweight showdown in April.

The unmissable fight looked destined to take place in Saudi Arabia with Fury and Usyk ready to battle for four major world title belts in the Middle East this spring.

Usyk defeated Joshua in their one-sided rematch in Saudi and the Gulf State was initially viewed as the frontrunner to host his next heavyweight contest against Fury.

But Wembley Stadium has now emerged as the most likely venue ahead of a proposed April 29 date, and Joshua’s promoter Hearn has a theory why Saudi Arabia has seemingly been ruled out as a possible host.

“The fight’s not happening in Saudi Arabia because Anthony Joshua’s not in it,” Matchroom chief Hearn told iFL TV.

“The fight’s not big enough. The fight’s not big enough for the money Tyson Fury wants because it doesn’t involve Anthony Joshua.

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Talks are ongoing ahead of a possible Wembley date on April 29 for Fury vs Usyk
(Image: Top Rank via Getty Images)

“[Joshua] may be the only guy that can command that kind of money, but hopefully we can make Tyson Fury against Anthony Joshua, and then Tyson will get the numbers he wants.”

Hearn believes Joshua still has the biggest pull-factor for Saudi Arabia, despite the fact he has not fought since convincingly losing to Usyk in Jeddah last August.

Joshua is back in action against Jermaine Franklin on April 1
(Image: Shaun Brooks/Action Plus/REX/Shutterstock)

The 33-year-old will finally return to the ring against Jermaine Franklin on April 1 at the 02 Arena, and Hearn has reiterated that his premiere heavyweight is still open to a ‘Battle of Britain’ fight if the talks between the Fury and Usyk camps collapse.

“I’m happy to make Joshua and Fury right now for the summer, whether Fury wins or loses against Usyk,” Hearn told BBC Sport.

“If the Usyk fight doesn’t get made, our message to Team Fury is that we’ll make the fight now, for straight after the Franklin fight.”