anthony joshua

EDDIE Hearn has praised his rarely-seen sister as the “secret star” of his dad’s billion pound sports empire.

But despite Katie’s key role at Matchroom, she won’t be seen by Netflix viewers on the family’s new docuseries, Matchroom: The Greatest Showmen.

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Explaining why to The Sun, Eddie said: “My sister has no interest in the limelight.

“We are chalk and cheese in so many ways.

“She was an A-star student, I really wasn’t and when we did the deal with Netflix they were like, ‘oh and we’ll see your sister as well?’

“But she’s in the office all the time, hiding every time the cameras come in.

“I definitely took the extrovert side out of us.”

Eddie still backs himself as dad Barry’s favourite as he prepares to take over the business.

But Katie is a key player behind the scenes – with 40 years of experience in producing and globally distributing live sporting events.

Since becoming the first female to work on the Premiership and International production team at Sky Sports, Katie is now Director of Programming and CEO of Matchroom Media.

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Eddie added: “Katie’s a massive part of the business. She runs all the TV production and she’s a little bit of a kind secret star.

“She’s very talented, but she wouldn’t tell you how talented she is. I’m not very talented, but I’ll tell you how talented I am.”

Eddie also opened up about the decision not to include his wife and kids in the TV series that shot straight to the top of Netflix’s charts.

“It was mainly for the children,” he says.

“They already get a load of stick really through being my daughters. I’ve got two daughters and I want them to be able to live as normal a life as possible without someone having a preconceived perception of who they are or what they might be.

“It’s not like they’re hidden away, but I’ve seen some other documentaries where the kids are there and I just feel like it’s a huge amount of pressure, especially at that age, 13 and 15.”

It hasn’t stopped his kids from giving their opinions about his performance on the show.

Eddie laughed: “My eldest is watching the series and her first comment was ‘yeah, it’s good, but you lose a lot in it’.

“But that’s the real part of it. In an ideal world, AJ would have beat Dubois. We would have won the 5v5, but that wouldn’t be a great show.

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“I think it’s good for them to understand as well that it’s not just you go to work, you win, you make money, you go to work, you lose, you have bad days. You have a lot of pressure.”

Asked whether they’re likely to join the family business once he takes the top spot, Eddie added: “I’ve always said no to the thought of my daughters joining the business but as they get a little bit older, I think if they have a passion for it then why not.

“When I left school, I didn’t want to work for my dad. Everyone said to me growing up, ‘well, you’re just going to work for your dad anyway’.

“I thought no, I’m going to go out and I’m going to do my own thing and I did for probably four or five years, but then realised I’m putting all this energy and time into someone else’s company instead of putting that into what my dad built.

“Suddenly it felt like my role and responsibility was to carry on what was important to him.

“So, yeah, if they have a passion for it, then I wouldn’t stop them. But maybe not boxing. I’ll probably keep them away from boxing…”

ANTHONY JOSHUA looks ready to fight right now as he showed off his shadow boxing and hulking physique.

The two-time heavyweight world champion has been out since September 2024 when he was knocked out by Daniel Dubois.

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But he posted a video online – showing off his incredible shape – shadow boxing outside.

Elbow surgery in May also kept Joshua sidelined – meanwhile shock talks to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul progressed behind the scenes.

Paul has since announced a November 14 exhibition bout against WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis – who is FIVE STONE lighter.

AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn is still in talks with Paul’s promotional partner Nakisa Bidarian over a fight in 2026.

He told iFL TV: “They want to move forward with the Joshua fight around March 2026.

“But I said to him, ‘If you get chinned by Gervonta Davis, I can’t possibly make the fight with AJ.’

“Gervonta’s a 135lber. Obviously, they don’t think that’s going to happen but I don’t know too much about it.

“It’s an exhibition with bigger gloves? I don’t know. But they definitely want to go from Gervonta Davis to AJ.

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“The issue is, I don’t think we can wait till November to see how he gets on against Gevonta Davis.

“AJ is back in training with the view to fight in early 2026 so it’s very likely we’ll do our own thing. But we’ll see. We’re still talking.

“We do realise it’s a massive event. If he was to go in there and bash up Gervonta Davis, it wouldn’t be nothing much to boast about.

“It’s a cruiserweight vs a lightweight but at least he’s in there with a pound-for-pound fighter.”

Joshua, 35, is now set to return in January or February in a warm-up bout before turning his attention again to Tyson Fury, 37.

Fury retired in January following two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, 38, last year but has teased a comeback in 2026.

Paul, 28, meanwhile made a heavyweight fight in November when Mike Tyson controversially made a comeback aged 58.

And over 100 MILLION watched Tyson lose his first professional fight in 20 years over eight shorter rounds of two minutes.

Paul then followed it up by beating ex-middleweight world champ Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 39, in June to earn himself a No14 WBA cruiserweight ranking.

But his next fight against Davis is not set to count towards his official record with the exhibition unable to be professionally sanctioned.

Paul fights in the 14st 4lb cruiserweight limit of 200lb while Davis is a champ in the 9st 9lb lightweight division of 135lb.

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LONDON — Oleksandr Usyk disagreed with the idea that he’s become one of boxing’s all-time greats, but the evidence is mounting after his fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

The victory, sealed with a crunching left hook to Dubois’ jaw, made Usyk the undisputed world heavyweight champion for a second time.

The undefeated southpaw retained his WBA, WBC and WBO belts and regained the IBF belt he relinquished just over a year ago.

The bad news for opponents — especially the British ones that he keeps beating — is that the 38-year-old Ukrainian has no plans to stop anytime soon. He said he’s still a “young guy” and named Tyson Fury, Derek Chisora, Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker as possible next foes. Jake Paul threw his own hat in the ring.

“I will continue boxing and I will continue training, but now I cannot say who my next opponent will be,” Usyk said at his press conference.

“I prepared 3 1/2 months, I’ve not seen my family, my wife. Every day I live with my team — 14 guys in one house. Now I want to go back home.”

Usyk dropped Dubois twice in the fifth — the second time with a lunging left hook midway through the round after Dubois missed with a right. The London native looked stunned on the canvas and couldn’t beat the count before about 90,000 spectators at Wembley.

Usyk, best known as a slick tactician rather than a power puncher, certainly answered questions about his age and whether he’d slow down.

He said that hook is called an “Ivan.”

“Ivan is like a big guy who lives in [the] village and work in (a) farm… it’s a hard, hard punch,” Usyk said.

Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk and Britain’s Daniel Dubois trade punches during an undisputed world heavyweight boxing title fight in London on Saturday.

(Frank Augstein / Associated Press)

No controversy

Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) beat Dubois for the second time in under two years and this time there was no low-blow drama. It was a ninth-round stoppage in Poland with, of all things, a straight jab. But the finishing shot Saturday was a no-doubter.

Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs) joined British countrymen Fury and Joshua in having lost twice to Usyk, who was an undisputed world champion as a cruiserweight before he moved up in weight six years ago.

The 27-year-old Dubois’ last fight — also at Wembley — had been a stunning knockout of Joshua last September.

He couldn’t muster the same magic, telling DAZN: “I gave everything I had. Take no credit away from that man, I’ll be back.”

The Briton gave a better showing than two years ago, when Usyk peppered him with jabs and won almost every round. Between the fourth and fifth rounds Saturday, Dubois’ corner was urging him to use a double jab but there was not time to carry out the orders as Usyk ended it shortly thereafter.

Dubois was hoping to become the first British heavyweight to hold every major belt since Lennox Lewis just over 25 years ago.

Dubois had inherited the IBF title that Usyk vacated last year when the Ukrainian chose to focus on his rematch with Fury.

Usyk said flatly “No” in response to whether he thinks he’s one of the sport’s all-time greats.

He said he’s just disciplined.

“I don’t have motivation, I have discipline. Motivation is temporary,” he said.

U.K. has been good to Usyk

Usyk said Britain has been like a “second home” to him. He won a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. He dethroned Joshua at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2021.

“I’m very grateful for this country. Thank you so much, you’re the best,” he said.

In 2008 in Liverpool, Usyk was crowned European amateur champion in the light heavyweight category.

In his last fight at the cruiserweight level, Usyk knocked out Liverpool’s Tony Bellew in Manchester. He remains undefeated as a professional and hasn’t lost any bout in 16 years.

Jake Paul eyes Joshua and Usyk

Unsurprisingly, Paul had his share of the spotlight Saturday. He was loudly booed during his entrance to the stadium — shown on the big screens.

The YouTuber-turned-boxer told DAZN that a fight against Joshua is “going to happen,” possibly at Wembley.

After the ring cleared out, Paul and Usyk engaged in a brief “stare down.”

Paul posted a message on his social media accounts: “Congrats to one of the greatest heavyweights of all time… I respect you a lot. Now we do an MMA match for the world.”

He added: “First AJ then OU. Book it.”

Frank Bruno was among the VIPs. The London native won the WBC heavyweight belt 30 years ago at the old Wembley Stadium when he beat Oliver McCall. He was knocked out by Mike Tyson six months later.

Usyk entered the stadium with an Eeyore stuffed donkey from the “Winnie the Pooh” books tucked into his jumpsuit. He brought it to past fights as well, apparently given to him by his daughter.

Maguire writes for the Associated Press.

TYSON FURY is champing at the bit to get back in the ring — and it is all thanks to his new training partner.

The 36-year-old Gypsy King retired after losing back-to-back heavyweight world title classics to Ukrainian hero Oleksandr Usyk, 38.

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But Fury confirmed he will return next year, with a long overdue duel with fellow Brit icon Anthony Joshua and an Usyk trilogy fight on the cards.

And the 6ft 9in showman has been inspired by his eldest boy, 14-year-old Prince, taking up the family trade and chasing him along Morecambe Bay.

Fury has been to Turkey for an IBA show and was at Wembley last night for Daniel Dubois and Usyk’s undisputed world heavyweight title decider.

He said: “It’s hard to let it go because it is something I enjoy. When I am around boxing it makes me miss it more. I try to only train three times a week now but it’s hard . . . very hard.

“And when people see me at the shows they assume I am coming back anyway, so it’s hard to walk away.

“I have had ground-breaking offers and everyone knows that I do not work for cheap pay.

“My eldest lad just did his first six-mile run with me and I am very proud of him because, before that, he couldn’t manage only two miles. So he is coming on well.”

Usyk and the 27-year-old Londoner Dubois managed to sell out the home of football, but even their two-bout rivalry would be dwarfed by the fantasy fight between Fury and 35-year-old AJ.

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Fury’s larger-than-life persona — be it hosting daily workouts on Instagram  during lockdown or starring in the WWE — has made him the sort of crossover star that boxing needs.

And he reckons there is still a desperate lack of superheroes left in the sport who can offer fight fans a 12-round escape from reality.

Fury explained: “It’s not just a problem in heavyweight boxing, it’s a problem for all of boxing.

“I don’t want to insult anyone but  boxing is entertainment and it is also showbusiness. People come home from working hard at their 9-5 job — which they don’t even like — and  they want to put their feet up on a Saturday.

“They want to  have a couple of beers, invite a few of their friends around and be entertained.

“But when you turn the TV on and see two boring characters who just stand there and don’t say s**t, they will think, ‘What am I watching?’

“If I went to an event and it was total s**t, I would never go back again or switch it on again.

“But  if something is good, I’ll book and go again. And it is the same in boxing.

Dream match imminent?

“There’s always a lack of charisma and characters. Every era has a couple of great characters and there are always a few great fighters who nobody remembers because they weren’t colourful enough characters.”

When the Fury and Joshua fight finally happens, Britain will stand still and everyone will pick a side.

The media events and face-to- face interviews will be worth the pay- per-view fee alone, even before a punch is thrown.

With the Saudis backing both men, it would generate hundreds of millions of pounds and would probably be a double header at Wembley and Riyadh.

And — following years of failed negotiations and rows over pulling power and value — Fury says they will be able to thrash out a fair deal.

He joked: “I would accept 90 per cent of the purse considering he’s coming back off a devastating knockout loss and I am coming off of two s**t losses!

Support from Paris

“But, honestly, the business side is irrelevant. If we do the fight it will be a level playing field of 50-50. I wouldn’t want to take advantage of him.”

And what about Fury’s long-suffering wife Paris, who tragically lost a baby boy six months into her pregnancy in the week building up to the first Usyk loss last year?

The Gypsy King revealed: “I have  spoken to Paris in depth about it and she has said that she will support me with whatever I want to do.

“But that might just be because she is sick of me and wants me out of the way!

“Or it’s because we have been the real Bonnie and Clyde since 2005  and she will support me with whatever I want to  do. She’s my ride or die.

“If we die, we die. And if we live, we live — that’s our sort of behaviour.”

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JAKE PAUL revealed he is goading Anthony Joshua about being knocked out – as their “s*** talking” ramps up behind the scenes.

Paul audaciously called out the two-time heavyweight champion on his podcast earlier this year – vowing to knock Joshua out.

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It did not take long for AJ to quite literally call the prankster-turned-prizefighter’s bluff by phoning him up – but Paul countered by suggesting a 2026 fight date.

And Paul has now revealed the two are already goading each other privately over social media – as all’s fair in love and war.

He said: “It was all nice, we’ve been cordial. He DMd me today like saying “LOL” to one of my training clips and then I sent him a “LOL” of of him getting knocked out.

“And so I guess like we’re kind of s*** talking, behind the scenes a bit. But I have a lot of love for Anthony Joshua.

“I think this type of stuff is funny and he’s a great guy and I think just a fight between us would be awesome and I do believe I can win.”

Joshua, 35, is yet to fight since being KO’d by Daniel Dubois, 27, at Wembley in September having undergone elbow surgery in May.

Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed AJ hopes to return before the year is over – meanwhile Paul faces ex-middleweight world champ Julio Cesar Chavez Jr on June 28.

It comes after he stepped up to heavyweight in November to face Mike Tyson – who controversially made a comeback aged 58.

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Still over 100 MILLION tuned in to watch Paul’s eight-round points win on Netflix – but it came at the cost of piling on TWO STONE.

And Paul – who gorged on pasta, steaks and potatoes to bulk up – admitted the heavyweight jump was “brutal”.

The 28-year-old added: “It was just too much and my body wasn’t made for it and even when I got into the ring I just felt too fat.

“So cruiserweight is definitely the perfect weight for me.”

Paul will come down from 16st 2lb to the 200lb cruiserweight limit of 14st 4lb to face Chavez in California.

It followed after Canelo Alvarez, 34, pulled out of a shock deal to fight Paul in Las Vegas on May 3 – instead signing with Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh.

Canelo – who beat Chavez on points in 2017 – regained his undisputed super-middleweight titles with victory over William Scull in May.

And now he defends the 168lb thrown in a September 13 super-fight against unbeaten American Terence Crawford, 37, as Paul was forced to look elsewhere.

But he said: “Chavez and I have been going back and forth for a long time and he’s always been a great opponent on the list of someone that I wanted to fight.

“And now it made perfect sense to go up against him as a former world champion and just continuing to further my resume and get more time under the lights.”

Paul also revealed he is in talks to fight current cruiserweight champions Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, 33, and Badou Jack, 41.

And with Gervonta Davis, 30, also lined up for an exhibition bout – Paul says he is boxing’s most desired man.

He joked: I’m like like Megan Fox from Transformers movie like everyone wants me! So there’s not enough time to do it all and it could make sense. Look, it might.

“It might line up but at the end of the day, there’s 100 people that want to fight me. I got Canelo, Gervonta, Anthony Joshua, Badou, Zurdo, Tommy Fury, KSI, the list keeps on going.

“It’s just about what makes sense and we’ll see when the negotiations come but I would for sure entertain a fight with him.”

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JOSH KELLY once played alongside Jordan Pickford – now he is targeting world title fights against champions taller than the goalkeeper.

Kelly spent two years in Sunderland’s academy but was booted out when he struggled to juggle it with boxing.

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But the Black Cats fan admits it was probably for the best having excelled in the ring after giving football the KO.

He told The Northern Echo: “I was in the academy from 11 until I was about 13. I was in and out of the academy and development centre.

“I remember playing in one training game and Pickford was in goal! I did well.

“I think I could have done OK in football but when I was making weight for boxing I didn’t really mature as quickly as the other guys, and I made the decision to focus on my boxing.

“I was trying to run both next to each other. I played for Hartlepool a little bit. But it’s hard to focus on both.

“I remember coming off one day and talking to my dad, a lot of the lads were a lot more mature than me, I was weight draining myself for the boxing and trying to diet and I knew I had to do this or that.

“When I started boxing for England and going places, that was the natural step.”

Kelly was a decorated amateur, representing Great Britain at World and European level.

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He went onto qualify for the 2016 Olympics but was knocked out in the second round by Daniyar Yeleussinov of Kazakhstan. 

Kelly then turned professional in 2017 and looked to be one of the most promising talents in world boxing, with flashy speed and eye-catching combinations.

But after drawing to unknown American Ray Robinson in 2019 and losing to David Avanesyan two years later, Kelly’s career came into question.

He built his way back up slowly, moving up from welterweight to light-middleweight, where he won the British title.

But Kelly is eyeing 154lb the big dogs – quite literally – with his eyes on 6ft 6in WBC and WBO champion Sebastian Fundora.

He told BoxingScene: “Tall; awkward; readable; I feel like he’s readable; he’s a freak as well.”

Despite weighing the 11 stone limit, Fundora stands the same height as 18 stone Anthony Joshua.

He beat Tim Tszyu for the WBO title and the vacant WBC belt.

Kelly meanwhile also has Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn in his sights after their second generation grudge match in April.

Benn, 28, moved up from welterweight for the fight but was beaten by Eubank, 35, after 12 thrilling rounds.

Kelly returns on Friday in Newcastle against 24-1 Romanian Flavius Biea.

But he said: “Well, Benn or Eubank or someone like that would be cool.

“So, just big fights – just ones that will get people talking, ones that will get people excited, ones where you get excited.” 

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TYSON FURY’S popular Netflix reality show could be the unlikely key to securing a fight with Anthony Joshua.

The father-of-seven and childhood sweetheart wife Paris starred in a nine-part fly-on-the-wall series called At Home with the Furys.

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It culminated in Fury’s December 2022 victory over Derek Chisora – but much has happened since then.

Fury faced ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou in October 2023 – surviving a knockdown to win a controversial split-decision.

He then twice lost to Oleksandr Usyk on points before announcing his retirement in January, a month after defeat in the rematch.

Fury was spotted filming with Netflix in March, meaning the next series could document his two losses to Usyk and subsequent retirement.

The Gypsy King also looks set to walk away from a huge Battle of Britain bout against Joshua.

But, Fury has started to tease a comeback with glimpses of his return to training while the success of his series could factor into his decision to fight again.

Netflix bosses will be keen to centre a series around Fury’s preparation for what would be the nation’s biggest-ever fight.

And with the streaming service now in the boxing business – they could even make a play to broadcast the mega-bout.

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YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul had 100 MILLION watch his fight in November with Mike Tyson – who controversially made a return aged 58.

The stream crashed amid the demand and Netflix also home to Katie Taylor’s July 11 trilogy against Amanda Serrano.

Joshua, 35, and Fury, 36, are both exclusive to DAZN per the deals their promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren signed.

But DAZN gave permission for Irish star Taylor, 38, to rematch and beat Serrano, 36, on Paul’s undercard.

It would take quite some convincing for DAZN to allow a similar pass for AJ and Fury but the streaming giants are making an aggressive push in live sports.

They have exclusive UK rights to the WWE and Monday Night Raw in America while also pushing to take over UFC coverage from ESPN.

In March, Chris Mannix reported that Netflix were “aggressively” targeting the rights for Joshua vs Fury.

Another was Canelo Alvarez’s September undisputed fight against unbeaten American Terence Crawford.

Netflix were on board for the super-fight, planned for the Las Vegas Raiders’ 65,000-seat, £1.5BILLION stadium with UFC boss Dana Whiyte to promote.

But Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh has since revealed the fight is set for September 13 – the date of UFC 320.

And Alalshikh said it will be on pay-per-view with Riyadh Season – who have an exclusive deal with DAZN.

It suggests White and Netflix are now out of the fight.

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ANTHONY JOSHUA is to have surgery on his elbow THIS WEEK – as talks to finally fight “big tease” Tyson Fury move a step closer.

Joshua, 35, is yet to return since his September knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois, 27, with a secret injury delaying his comeback.

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AJ has since revealed the setback was caused by a problem with his elbow – which promoter Eddie Hearn reveals is due to be fixed this week.

Hearn told SunSport: “He just goes back into camp and just can’t fire on all cylinders consistently.

“So he can go back, have a couple of sessions, bit of soreness in the elbow.

“They tried to let it rest and recover and they’ve told him that I think it’s this week, he has a small keyhole surgery in the arm.

“Clear out, and it’s four-six weeks, he’s good to go. So I think we’re looking post-September.”

Following Joshua’s loss and Fury’s double defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, 38, last year, it set up the beaten Brits to finally settle their overdue score.

That was until Fury announced a shock retirement – the fourth of his career – in January only one month after Usyk won their rematch.

But the unpredictable Gypsy King has since ended his social media silence to begin hinting at a comeback – leaving Hearn hopeful.

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The promoter said: “Tyson Fury is a big tease, every day I open up Instagram like today and he’s got his wraps on saying he’s done 12 rounds.

“He looks super fit, Tyson Fury, he looks like he’s ready to go now! Which is encouraging, but obviously probably the delay that AJ’s got is a blessing, to be honest with you.

“One, you’ve got Usyk against Dubois coming up so that gives you a little bit of time.

“And number two, you’ve got Tyson Fury who could potentially come back to the ring so it’s gonna be interesting to see what plays out.”

Turki Alalshikh’s introduction to boxing and his deep Saudi pockets have helped bridge the gap between Hearn and long-time rival Frank Warren.

The previously warring promoters even share the sports streaming platform DAZN now – paving the way for talks between AJ and Fury.

Hearn admitted: “I’d be lying if I said we haven’t discussed it socially, because obviously everyone’s desperate to make it happen.

“But, no one said, ‘Oh, I think it’s coming, I think he’s coming back.’ But at the same time, he’s training.

Tyson Fury is a big tease, every day I open up Instagram like today and he’s got his wraps on saying he’s done 12 rounds. He looks super fit, Tyson Fury, he looks like he’s ready to go now! Which is encouraging

Eddie Hearn

“And I feel like with Tyson Fury over the years, you’ve seen him not training and balloon out of shape and then it takes him a long time to come back.

“Now it looks like he’s either ready to fight or he’s ready to begin camp, which is hugely encouraging. But I just don’t think he’ll be able to leave it alone, if I’m honest with you.

“Because, the money’s one thing, but just the occasion and the challenge, and he’s a competitor, he’s a winner. And I just can’t believe he’s gonna let it slide.”

While Fury is Joshua & Co’s main target, Hearn warned they will await the result of Dubois’ July 19 rematch with Usyk at Wembley.

Hearn is adamant AJ will fight before the year ends – with or without Fury.

He warned: “Next couple of months, if there’s no movement, we fight.

“I mean there’s no way AJ’s not fighting this year. So who that will be? I can’t tell you.

“I mean, that’s the million dollar question at all times, but I think more importantly is, do we get any news from Fury in the next four, six, eight weeks?

“If we do, we’ll fight him this year. If not, we’ll fight and then maybe he comes back next year, who knows?

“But I’d be lying if I said we weren’t desperate to see him return. But, at the same time we can’t just wait around and see what happens.”

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