Hearn: Only defeat or injury can derail Joshua-Fury blockbuster

Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, believes only defeat or injury can prevent the long-awaited heavyweight showdown between Joshua and Tyson Fury from finally taking place later this year.

Hearn was responding to comments by Fury, who recently suggested the highly anticipated all-British clash might not happen, saying he was prepared to face another opponent if necessary.

READ ALSO: Osimhen ranks among world’s top four strikers as Kane leads global list

Both former heavyweight champions return to the ring this week in what are widely viewed as crucial tune-up bouts ahead of a proposed November meeting. Fury takes on Poland’s Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand, on Friday, while Joshua faces Albania’s Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Hearn insisted Joshua has consistently honoured his commitments and argued that Fury’s record suggests he is the more likely of the two to withdraw from a fight.

“Look at history. Check the facts, check the résumé. If you really want to pick one fighter who’s more reliable than the other, I don’t think it’s a close-run race,” Hearn said.

“What fight has AJ ever pulled out of? AJ has fought every contender available to him. He also signed to fight Tyson Fury before, but that bout fell through because of the arbitration ruling involving Deontay Wilder.

“The only thing that’s going to stop the fight from happening in November is if one of these guys gets beaten this weekend or picks up an injury.”

Joshua, meanwhile, admitted he is still grieving the loss of two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, who died in a car crash near Lagos in December.

“It’s tough. Every time I think about it, it hurts,” Joshua told the BBC.

“Even talking about it now… it hurts, but I keep my mind occupied. If I stop, I let it sink in, and I’m not ready for it to sink in yet.”

Ghami served as Joshua’s sport and exercise rehabilitation coach for more than a decade, while Ayodele was his personal trainer.

Saturday’s contest will mark Joshua’s first fight since his knockout defeat to IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024.