By Charles Brun: Eddie Hearn expects Tyson Fury will keep his word and vacate his WBC heavyweight title next week and won’t fight again.
Hearn says that once Fury (32-0-1, 23 KOs) vacates his WBC strap, the “hungry” contenders in the World Boxing Council’s rankings will fight for the belt.
The WBC organization is expected to speak with Fury, 33, this week to get a definitive answer from him about whether he’s going to carry through with his retirement after his recent announcement on April 23rd after his win over Dillian Whyte.
Fury has been slow in relinquishing his WBC belt, and some believe that he’s playing a game and isn’t going to retire.
On other hand, if Fury is serious about his desire to face UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou next in a hybrid exhibition boxing match, it helps for Tyson to still be in possession of his WBC title.
If Fury still holds the WBC title, he won’t be viewed as a washed-up fighter looking to take advantage of his fleeting fame.
Instead, Fury’s exhibition match with Ngannou would be seen as a brief detour before he gets on with the serious business of taking on the Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr Usyk II winner.
What would be pathetic is if Fury walks into the ring for his exhibition match against Ngannou, holding the WBC title.
That would give the appearance of Fury using his WBC title as a prop to somehow make his exhibition with Ngannou look like a real fight instead of a money-spinning side venture.
“Tyson Fury is always good to his word, and he’s already said he’s definitely not fighting again, so he doesn’t need his WBC world title,” said Eddie Hearn to Fight Hub TV.
“I’m sure when we have those conversations, Tyson Fury will vacate his [WBC] title next week and let a young, hungry fighter that wants to fight for the title fight for the title.
“So definitely after everything Tyson Fury said, I’m sure he’ll vacate that title next week,” said Hearn.
“I think there are a lot of boxers that are overpaid in terms of their commercial value,” said Hearn reacting to UFC president Dana White’s comments.
“I also think there are other fighters that are underpaid in terms of and some fighters that are paid in accordance to their commercial value,” Hearn said.
“I also agree with Dana White that a lot of promoters put on shows without any commercial understanding of the numbers and end up doing their bollocks on the fight, and you can’t run a business like that.
“He’s very right, but we’re not one of those people. There are many fighters in the sport that are overpaid in terms of their commercial value, but it’s a very tough sport, and I hope that fighters get every penny they can,” said Hearn.
