By Tim Royner: Eddie Hearn thinks it could be a headache for him to negotiate a fight between Anthony Joshua and former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury for the summer or perhaps later this year. With Fury (25-0, 18 KOs) requesting a large purse split for a fight with IBF/WBA heavyweight champion Joshua 20-0, 20 KOs), Hearn thinks it could make the negotiations drag out.
Hearn wants to keep Joshua busy in 2018 by fighting him 3 times against WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker on March 31, and then a fight in the summer and another fight in December. Fury could be fight No.2 for Joshua in 2018 if Hearn gets it negotiated. If not, then WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder or Alexander Povetkin would be next in line for Hearn to look to.
Hearn can probably make the negotiations with Fury quick if he’s willing to give him a 50-50 purse split for the Joshua fight. Fury, 29, has already started off asking for a 60-40 split for that match, but he’s probably not serious. If he is, Hearn should have no problems getting his management to drop down to a more reasonable level of 50-50 or 55-45. Fury isn’t the type of fighter that will likely agree to a 70-30 or 65-35 split in favor or Joshua. Parker is said to have accepted a purse percentage between 30 and 35 for his March 31st fight against Joshua at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Fury is a much bigger name than Parker, and he’s still the Ring heavyweight champion. That counts for something.
“Like I said in interviews last week, we’re ready to make the fight,” Hearn said to skysports.com. “It’s tricky to make, because it’s a voluntary defence for Anthony Joshua, but yes it’s a voluntary defence against a contender in Tyson Fury that is a former champion, does have a huge amount of value in the fight as well.”
There’s no question that the 6’9” Fury brings a tremendous value to the Joshua fight. That’s the biggest fight out there for Joshua in boxing right now. It’s even bigger than Joshua’s fight with WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. It would be best for Hearn to not be in a rush to make the Joshua-Fury fight in 2018. If Fury can get some wins under his belt under credible opposition this year, it he’ll build up a fight with Joshua for either late 2018 or early 2019. Fury and Hearn are both in too much of a rush to make the Joshua fight happen. If Fury believes in himself, he’ll wait long enough to get some decent wins under his belt before he looks to face Joshua next year.
Hearn can’t be too greedy when it comes to the negotiations between Joshua and Fury. If Hearn insists on Joshua taking a big percentage split like he’s getting in the Parker fight, Fury is going to dig in his heels and refuse to take the fight. Joshua will wind up having to face Wilder and Povetkin in 2018 instead of having Fury as one of his opponents.
“That’s something for the future, if Anthony can be successful on March 31,” Hearn said.