Eddie Hearn predicts Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua prize money
The British heavyweight superstars could meet in 2024 should they both emerge victorious against expected opponents Oleksandr Usyk and Deontay Wilder
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Your support makes all the difference.Eddie Hearn insists Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are poised to make more than £100m if the British heavyweights meet in the ring.
The highly-anticipated fight, between the two defining fighters of their generation in British boxing, has been long-negotiated between Hearn and rival promoter Frank Warren.
But with WBC world champion Fury now set to face Usyk, who holds the WBA, WBO and IBF belts, Joshua is poised to meet Wilder, who lost twice to the ‘Gypsy King’ during their compelling triology.
But should both men emerge unscathed, Hearn anticipates a mega payday for both men.
"They'll make over £100m each," Hearn said on Stick to Football. "If Fury beats Usyk and AJ beats Wilder, then they'll make over £100m each.
"At that level, it becomes easy [to make the fight], it's like, ‘come on lads’. We have to see that fight.
"I think AJ beats Wilder. I believe he beats Fury. Styles make fights. Fury reads the fight well, a tremendous boxing IQ.
"He's got better durability over rounds than AJ, probably Usyk, Wilder, he's a one-off because he's been boxing all his life. It's so natural for him."
Hearn also tipped Joshua to box on the same card in a potential clash between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn, with the promoter talking up the possibility of a December date.
Talks have rumbled on over a heavyweight fight with Wilder, though that bout now appears unlikely to take place in December – as was originally discussed – and “AJ” may instead box a different opponent at the end of this year.
According to his promoter Hearn, Joshua could fight in Abu Dhabi on 23 December, possibly on the same card as a long-awaited bout between compatriots Eubank Jr and Benn – who is also promoted by Hearn.
And 23 December is one of the rumoured dates for Fury vs Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight title fight that was announced last week.
Benn vs Eubank Jr was originally set for October 2022, but the bout collapsed just days before fight night, upon the revelation that Benn had failed two drug tests in the run-up to the contest. Benn, 26, was subsequently stripped of his licence by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) and charged by UK Anti-Doping (Ukad), though the World Boxing Council cleared the unbeaten welterweight of any intentional wrongdoing. Later, the National Anti-Doping Panel lifted a provisional suspension on Benn, though the BBBofC and Ukad have appealed that move.
As such, the Briton is still unable to fight in the UK, though he returned to the ring with a win over Rodolfo Orozco in Florida last month. It is likely due to his inability to box in the UK that Hearn’s proposed super-card featuring Eubank Jr and Joshua would take place in Abu Dhabi.
Joshua, 33, last boxed in August, knocking out Robert Helenius after initial opponent Dillian Whyte failed a drug test. After Joshua’s win, it was revealed that Helenius had also failed a pre-fight drug test.
Meanwhile, Eubank Jr most recently fought in September. The 34-year-old stopped Liam Smith to avenge a TKO loss to the Liverpudlian.
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