EDDIE HEARN revealed that his attempts to sign Tyson Fury were partially thwarted by his friendship with Anthony Joshua.
Matchroom Boxing's chief spoke with The Gypsy Kings about making a comeback to Monaco in 2017. However, he wasn't convinced that he would be able to get out of his depression and addiction.
Eddie Hearn attempted to sign Tyson Fury, WBC heavyweight champion, in 2017.
The Matchroom Boxing chief believes Fury was cautious about signing with him due to his relationship and Anthony Joshua
Hearn was eventually proven wrong, but he believes Fury knew he would play second fiddle with AJ if he joined Matchroom.
GQ spoke with the British boxing king: Tyson Fury isn’t the biggest draw to boxing. AJ is still the best.
"But yes, he's huge star. But, I'm loyal to AJ and Fury understood that when we were discussing signing him at 400lbs.
He knew that AJ would be my number-one, which would have been hard. You never know what might happen in the future.
If Joshua, the WBC retired heavyweight champion, were in Hearn’s stable, then the long-awaited Battle of Britain could have happened.
Hearn isn't bitter about his decision to not sign Wythenshawe's warrior.
Boxing Social, January 2012: "I honestly never regretted anything."
"It's difficult because AJ [Anthony Joshua] has been a close friend of mine, and to have those guys together... I wanted those guys fighting and for AJ (our guy) to be my man.
PLAY DREAM TEAM TODAY FOR FREE WITH PS100k IN PRICE MONEYTyson was 26 stone when I flew him to Monaco. He was sitting right where you are, sweating, and I thought, "You're never going to fight again."
"The plan was for two easy fights. That would have been Sefer Seferi or those type of guys he had. Then, we could have a step up to fight Manuel Charr or someone similar.
"Now, if only I had known that he would go Sefer Seferi, someone other, and then Deontay wilder, I would have loved it."
Hearn has been pelted by Fury many times over the years, but insists that he doesn't have any ill will toward the Brit.
He stated that he has a lot of respect for Tyson Fury. Sometimes people get it mixed up because sometimes I'll tell him this and sometimes he'll tell me that.
"But this guy did something that most people couldn't or couldn't do. He got himself out of a position that was ending his life, and was able to fight fit enough to win the world heavyweight title.
"I don't really have anything to say about Tyson Fury. However, I did think he was not the best heavyweight fighter in the world.
"He has proven to me that he is the number one heavyweight in this world, right now on paper."
