ANTHONY JOSHUA REJECTS POST-FIGHT RING FACE-OFF DESPITE FURY’S DECISIVE WIN OVER MAKHMUDOV
Eddie Hearn explains Anthony Joshua’s ring snub. Is the Fury vs AJ fight actually signed for this autumn?
Eddie Hearn laid it out pretty clearly: Anthony Joshua stayed out of the ring Saturday night and didn’t square off with Tyson Fury, even though Fury and Turki Alalshikh were both pushing hard for that dramatic moment to sell their big all-British fight for later this year.
Tyson Fury came back for yet another post-retirement bout at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, picking up a decisive win over Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov. It wasn’t much of a contest, really. Fury dominated, collected a unanimous decision, and then instantly shifted his attention to Anthony Joshua sitting at ringside. At one point, Joshua even whipped out his phone to record the fight.
Naturally, Fury grabbed the mic and did what he does best: he hyped up the idea of fighting Joshua next, telling the crowd (and Joshua himself) that this was the battle fans have been waiting for. He even called AJ into the ring on the spot.
But Joshua didn’t bite. He stayed put, calmly telling the crowd he’s ready to fight Fury and has been chasing it for a decade. No drama. No face-off.
Later, Fury and his camp went public. They said their side had signed the contracts weeks ago and put the blame for the holdup squarely on Joshua.
“We brought him here tonight to make this fight a done deal,” Fury said. “I’ve already signed. No idea if he has.”
Netflix, broadcasting the fight, amped things up even more by teasing that the huge British showdown would happen this autumn. But Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, pushed the decision back onto Joshua. “The only one who can confirm it is AJ,” he said. “It’s one man holding things up.”
Fury himself doubled down: “If it isn’t Anthony Joshua next, I’m done with boxing. It’s him, or I’m gone.”
On the other side, Joshua’s team fired back against any claims that AJ was running from the fight. Eddie Hearn, his promoter, explained why Joshua didn’t step into the ring: “He’s not interested in the theatrics if there’s no deal done. How many times has this fight supposedly been on? Years go by, nothing happens. Until something’s signed, it’s all just talk. AJ knows it’s Fury who really needs this, and he’ll fight him. We’re confident it happens, but right now, nothing is signed.”
And as for the talk about Joshua being scared? Hearn shut that down: “Scared of what, of that? Even Fury’s own fans feel the energy is different now. We don’t see anything other than an AJ win.”
"I WON'T BE THERE"—JOHN FURY BOYCOTTS TYSON'S TOTTENHAM HOMECOMING AGAINST MAKHMUDOV
John Fury confirms he will not attend Tyson Fury’s comeback against Makhmudov. Read why the father-son bond is "destroyed."
John Fury has already made up his mind: he won't be at his son Tyson's big comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
It’s only been 15 months since Tyson Fury said he was done with boxing, but here he is, coming out of retirement for the fifth time. On Saturday night, he’ll step into the ring at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to take on Russia’s Makhmudov in a heavyweight clash.
Everyone’s talking about what comes next. If Fury wins, there’s buzz about finally seeing him face Anthony Joshua later this year. A rematch with Oleksandr Usyk is also floating around.
Fury says the reason for his return is personal. After a car crash killed some of Joshua’s friends last December, he says it hit him that life’s too short. He wants to live every day like it’s his last.
But not everyone’s on board, especially his dad, John. Out of everyone in Fury’s circle, John’s been the loudest in saying he doesn't want to see his son back in the ring. People have wondered if he’d even show up to the fight.
Turns out, he won’t. Mail Sport reported John won’t be at the event and is still flat-out against Tyson’s comeback, even though he did show up at the press conference back in February.
This isn’t coming out of nowhere. Just a few weeks ago, John admitted his relationship with Tyson had been badly damaged by this return to boxing.
"My relationship with Tyson is destroyed," he told Playbook Boxing. "Boxing destroyed it completely. I'll say it on camera: I've never taken £10 off him in my life and I never will.
"I don't want Tyson's money, and I don't need Tyson's money. Whatever he's got, good luck to him. But don’t forget who built his story when he was a kid. He didn't build it himself, did he? Me, his father.
"I was 30 seconds away from asking for a break there. I haven't really expressed these emotions before, but they're strong, and they're there.
"I think he's past his best. I'm a no-filter kind of guy. I say it how I see it. I love him, but there are too many people patting him on the back and telling him things that aren't true, building him up like he's invincible. He's not, and he hasn't been for a while."
John isn’t the only one who feels this way. Tyson’s wife, Paris and his brother Tommy have also spoken up about wanting him to stay retired.
"If you asked any one of his family if we want to see him keep boxing, the answer would be a big ‘no’ from all of us," Tommy said to Bloody Elbow. "That’s everyone, because we care about his health."
EDDIE HEARN OFFICIALLY BLOCKS WHITTAKER VS MORRELL; SUAREZ FIGHT REMAINS FOR APRIL
Ben Whittaker headlines Liverpool on April 18! Eddie Hearn explains why he rejected David Morrell for Braian Suarez.
Eddie Hearn isn’t having any of this talk about Ben Whittaker fighting David Morrell, at least not yet. As he sees it, Whittaker’s just not ready for that kind of step up, and that’s fine. Hearn made it clear he wants Whittaker to keep moving forward, but to do it the right way, matching him carefully as he builds experience.
He didn’t sugarcoat it, either. Hearn put Morrell right up there with the top guys at light heavyweight. In his eyes, Whittaker isn’t in that league yet. The British fighter’s got an Olympic silver medal, sure, and he’s undefeated so far, but he hasn’t even fought a full 12-rounder yet. That’s a sign for Hearn and his team that he’s not ready to jump in with elite opponents.
“We’re not fighting at that level yet,” Hearn said. He figures Whittaker probably needs three or four more fights before taking on someone like Morrell.
Next up, Whittaker headlines in Liverpool on April 18, facing Argentina’s Braian Nahuel Suarez in a 10-rounder. He only got bumped up to the main event because Callum Smith pulled out with an injury. Smith was supposed to take on Morrell that night. With Smith out, Morrell went straight to social media to call Whittaker out: “Ben Whittaker, I’m ready to fight April 18th. How are you older than me and still a prospect? Let’s give the fans the fight they want to see!”
But Hearn isn’t budging. Whittaker’s got Suarez locked in after a short training camp, and they’re not swapping him out for someone as dangerous as Morrell at the last minute.
If Whittaker wins in Liverpool, he’s already got a return date pencilled in June 27, against an American opponent still to be named. If he comes through that, Hearn says they’ll look at a step up with British contenders like Anthony Yarde or Lyndon Arthur before a shot at a world title comes into the picture.
Fans haven’t been thrilled, honestly. A lot of them are frustrated with the slow pace and level of Whittaker’s opponents so far. He turns 29 on June 6, and people are starting to wonder when he’s actually going to take on the big names.
For now, though, Hearn’s message is pretty simple: no shortcuts. Morrell, meanwhile, is still waiting for a new fight date after the Smith pullout, itching to get back in the ring after his own training camp.
