By Charles Brun: Eddie Hearn hopes that the entire world will apply massive pressure on the winner of the Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury 2 rematch on February 22 to face Anthony Joshua later this year in 2020, as long as he beats Kubrat Pulev next.
Hearn doesn’t want to wait on Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) fighting the winner of the Wilder-Fury fights until 2021 for some reason. From Hearn’s perspective, it’s better for Joshua to get the winner of the Wilder vs. Fury rematch this year rather than wait. Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs) is going to want to try and recapture his WBC heavyweight title later this year if he loses to Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs) on February 22.
Joshua gains a lot in facing Wilder-Fury 2 winner
It makes sense in terms of the money Joshua can make from the increased popularity he would receive if he were to beat the winner of that fight in 2020 rather than waiting a year. The problem is that Wilder and Fury have a contract for THREE fights, and they’re expected to face each other in a trilogy match in late 2020. The loser of their February 22 rematch has the option to execute the third match.
“Whoever wins [Wilder vs Fury 2] and if AJ beats Pulev…basically the whole world is going to say ‘we have to see that fight,'” said Hearn to skysports.com. “No one is going to want to see the [Wilder-Fury 3 trilogy match]. Everyone is going to want to see the undisputed fight, the winner against AJ,” said an eager Hearn.
Wilder vs. Fury 2 loser unlikely to not force a third fight
It would be almost unbelievable for the LOSER of the Wilder-Fury 2 fight not to press for the third fight. The loser of the Wilder vs. Fury rematch would see their popularity nosedive if they don’t force the third fight this year. It’s obviously no skin off of Hearn’s nose for the loser of the fight to just forget about making a third fight, because his whole look out is to help boost Joshua’s career.
The loser of the Wilder-Fury 2 won’t be too broken up about the world not getting their way in seeing the winner of their fight face Joshua straightaway in 2020. What’s important for the loser of the rematch between Deontay and Tyson is for them to replay it for a third time.
What can Hearn offer Wilder vs. Fury 2 loser to step aside?
Hearn can make it worthwhile for the winner of the Deontay-Fury rematch to fight Joshua this year, but he can’t do anything for the loser of that fight. That’s the thing that Hearn doesn’t quite realize. It doesn’t matter what huge offer he makes to the winner of the Fury vs. Wilder rematch, but it’s the loser that has the option to trigger the trilogy fight. I guess if Hearn can make a huge offer to the loser of the fight for them to step aside, then maybe they might do it.
Just how much Hearn woiuld need to offer the Deontay vs. Tyson 2 loser to not execute the third fight is the big question. Would $10 million do the job? It’s doubtful that Hearn would be able to offer enough to the loser of that fight for them not to force the third contest.