AJ won’t sleep until he beats Usyk Vs Fury winner

Barry Hearn: Joshua vs. Fury Must Happen—It’s a Fight Boxing Cannot Miss

Boxing promoter Barry Hearn has issued a strong call to action for the sport’s powerbrokers, insisting that the highly anticipated clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury must take place, ideally in early 2025, regardless of the outcome of Fury’s upcoming rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.

Joshua and Fury, two of the most prominent British heavyweights of their generation, have been on a collision course for much of their careers. Despite both having held multiple heavyweight world titles, the paths of these two titans have yet to converge in the ring, leaving boxing fans around the world eagerly awaiting a showdown. Hearn, whose company Matchroom has guided Joshua’s career since he turned professional, believes that the sport has a “duty” to deliver this matchup before time runs out.

“Joshua against Tyson Fury in early 2025 is the fight that we have a responsibility to deliver, and we don’t walk away from our responsibilities,” Hearn told Sky Sports in a recent interview. “This is the fight the world has been waiting for, and as promoters and managers, it’s our job to make sure it happens.”

The potential for this fight has been a topic of discussion for years, but it has taken on new urgency with Fury set to face Usyk in a high-stakes rematch in December. Usyk, the WBA, WBO, and WBC heavyweight champion, has already defeated Joshua twice, adding another layer of complexity to the heavyweight division’s landscape. However, Hearn insists that even if Usyk were to prevail again against Fury, the Joshua-Fury fight could—and should—still be made.

“Yes, I think it’s all of our duty, those involved,” Hearn emphasized. “We have to keep delivering the very best product. We need to do that fight. Personally, I think Usyk beats Fury in the rematch. It’s easier to make if Fury beats Usyk because then, if Joshua has beaten [Daniel] Dubois, you’ve got the unification fight because Joshua will hold the IBF belt.”

Joshua is set to face Daniel Dubois on September 21 at Wembley Stadium, where the two will contest the IBF heavyweight world championship. This fight, broadcast live on Sky Sports Box Office, is another crucial step in Joshua’s journey to reclaim the top spot in the heavyweight division. Meanwhile, Fury and Usyk will be fighting for the WBA, WBO, and WBC titles on December 21, a bout that will undoubtedly have significant implications for the future of the division.

Hearn acknowledged that while Usyk is a top-tier boxer, he lacks the commercial appeal that Fury brings to the sport. “Usyk is a top-class world champion as a boxer, but doesn’t have the commercial appeal of Tyson Fury,” Hearn said. “So whatever happens in Fury-Usyk—still assuming that AJ has won, and we mustn’t get carried away with that, it’s not a foregone conclusion—assuming that AJ is victorious in that fight, there is no bigger fight in the world still than Fury and AJ.”

Hearn is confident that the Joshua-Fury fight would be a global event of unprecedented scale. “It’s the one the world’s waiting for. There isn’t a venue big enough to stage the number of people that would like to attend that. It will be colossal,” he stated.

While the focus is currently on the upcoming bouts against Dubois and Usyk, Hearn also mentioned that Joshua has his sights set on avenging his losses to Usyk. “Whatever happens, though, Joshua will want to fight Usyk a third time,” Hearn said. “He wants to beat Usyk. The first fight he had with Usyk, frankly, he came out second best. He went away, he regrouped, he learned, he studied, and he still got beat in the second fight. That’s why he was so disappointed in the second fight.”

Hearn emphasized that for Joshua, it’s not just about the money—although the financial rewards are substantial—but about legacy and redemption. “It’s a split decision, and it was close, but Anthony Joshua’s a very special type of sportsman. The money’s great. He’s got more than enough money—you could float a battleship if you put all his cash in one locker. But they want to win,” Hearn explained. “These people want to win, and they want a legacy. I don’t think Anthony Joshua will sleep at night until he is unified.”

As 2024 unfolds and the heavyweight division continues to evolve, all eyes will be on the potential for Joshua and Fury to finally meet in the ring. For now, the boxing world waits, knowing that the clock is ticking on making this once-in-a-lifetime fight a reality.