Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury: British heavyweight super fight is currently ‘unmakeable’, warns Eddie Hearn

Joshua's promoter Hearn has revealed that recent talks with Fury about a potential Joshua clash went so badly that he now doubts whether it will ever happen

Will Joshua and Fury go head-to-head in 2018? (Independent)

Eddie Hearn has branded the all-British heavyweight super fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury 'unmakeable'.

Fury is free to box again after accepting a backdated two-year ban from Ukad relating to elevated levels of nandrolone found in a test back in February 2015.

The former unified heavyweight champion of the world has not boxed since November 2015, when he famously beat Wladimir Klitschko in Germany, but he is finally back in the gym and planning to fight within the next few months.

Fury has battled against depression and drug abuse since his last outing but his imminent return has genuinely opened the door to a mouth-watering showdown with Joshua, the current WBA and IBF champion.

The idea of a summer clash at Wembley Stadium had even been suggested, with Joshua and his team keen to box three times during what could become a career-defining and money-spinning 2018.

Unification fights with WBO champion Joseph Parker and Deontay Wilder, the WBC king, could come to fruition but neither will generate the same interest as a showdown with Fury, the magnitude of which would eclipse any other contest in British boxing history.

But Joshua's promoter Hearn has revealed that recent talks with Fury about a potential Joshua clash went so badly that he now doubts whether it will ever happen.

“The only way Fury is going to get the Joshua fight is with us,” said Hearn, who has offered to facilitate Fury's comeback by signing the 29-year-old to his promotional company Matchroom.

“So I've been talking to Fury about a plan which would lead to the Joshua fight.

“I said to him 'we can't talk about the Joshua fight now, because you can't expect to have a conversation about it when you haven't boxed for two years.' He might come back and stink the place out and have small value in the fight.

“He came back to me and said 'right, I'll make it really easy for you and give you a deal that you will accept straight away'. Then he said: 'I want a 60/40 split and all the champion's benefits. I want to walk second, it's my name on the poster and I want choice of changing rooms'.

“It made me laugh, I said 'that's great, yeah, good joke'. But he was deadly serious. He says Joshua is only where he is because of him. Then I realised he was actually serious with those terms.”

Since Fury was last seen in the ring, Joshua has evolved into one of the biggest stars in world boxing, picking up two of Fury's old titles on the way.

The 2012 Olympic gold medalist is now 20-0, all by knockout, and is by far the biggest commercial draw in the country, highlighted by the fact that his last two fights have been in front of sold-out stadium crowds.

Joshua and Fury have shared the ring once, very briefly, in the past when the undefeated traveller visited the Finchley Amateur Boxing Club for sparring in 2010. Fury publicly insists he would have an easy night's work against what he describes as a 'pumped-up weightlifter' but Hearn believes he feels differently deep down.

“I don't think think Fury wants the AJ fight yet,” Hearn added.

Hearn thinks that Fury is avoiding Joshua (Getty)

“He knows he will get mauled by Anthony Joshua if they fought now.

“I rate Fury, he's hard to beat and awkward. He's not exciting but he's a messer who is skillful. But I'm sorry, you cannot come back after that period out and compete with AJ.

“He sees the AJ fight as two or three fights down the road so I have said let's do those fights then we will make the big one. I've offered that, I've told him I'll give him a couple and then the AJ fight.”

Fury is currently a free agent and exploring his options before signing with a new promoter. He was in Montreal at the weekend to support his close friend Billy Joe Saunders, who is promoted by Frank Warren, defend his world title.

Fury was in Montreal to watch Saunders defend his belt (PA)

Fury said in Canada that he is be open to signing with Warren, who has a deal with BT Sport, which would make a Joshua fight even more complicated.

Hearn said: “I think he probably will go with Frank which will make the fight unlikely won't it? Obviously we are with different broadcasters. I don't think it would warrant a dual broadcast with Sky and BT.

“But to be honest, more worrying than that is that we are so far from a deal. This fight is unmakeable. It's not even as if we are within 5, 10, 15 or 20 per cent. Fury is a voluntary challenger for two titles.

“Let's make it clear that he has a lot of value in the fight, it's not like we see him as 20 per cent, but at the moment we should not even be considering this fight until we see if he can actually do something rather than just talk about but that's all I see.

“All I see is someone that has got six stone to go and talks a good game but let's see him back in the ring.

“Tyson Fury says it's not about the money, it's about the legacy but if you give me a load of money I'll take the fight. Who Tyson Fury goes with is purely about who pays him the most money. It's very simple. It doesn't matter if it's me, or Frank or Sid Snot.”

Hearn hopes to set up a fight between the pair (Getty)

Although his drugs ban is now behind him, Fury is still not currently licensed to box in this country. The British Boxing Board of Control are due to meet in January to discuss whether or not to give the self-styled Gypsy King his license back.

Fury has since said that he might not even apply for a license with the British Board and instead go elsewhere. His fellow heavyweights David Haye and Dereck Chisora famously fought at Upton Park in 2012 in a bout which was sanctioned by the Luxembourg Boxing Federation because neither held a British license at the time.

But Hearn has warned Fury that he will not be able to box on any Matchroom shows unless he is licensed by the BBBoC.

“He said in an interview that he will go with the commission who pays him the most money?” Hearn added. “It doesn't really work like that mate – you pay them the money.

Joshua hopes to unify the belts (Getty)

“And we are only interested in working with fighters who are with the British Boxing Board of Control.

“I would not consider working outside of the Board in this country and I don't think Sky would want to do that either. The Board are the governing body and we are not looking to set up a rogue commission.

“He should just turn up and get on with it. They're not going to turn him down. More than anything they have to deal with the depression and the cocaine and probably his fitness. He's cleared with UKAD so that's no longer a problem.

“They will definitely give him a licence so he should just go through that process.”