Hearn says Fury’s performance against Makhmudov did not show enough to beat Anthony Joshua, raising doubts about his current level
ddie Hearn has questioned Tyson Fury’s level following his win over Arslanbek Makhmudov. The promoter said the performance did not show enough to suggest Fury would beat Anthony Joshua.
Hearn said to Ring Magazine that the performance “didn’t show me anything that would suggest he would beat Anthony Joshua.” It’s a pointed comment, but it matches the eye test. Fury handled Arslanbek Makhmudov with ease, controlled the rounds, and stayed out of danger. The issue is how it looked doing it.
The movement that once separated Fury from the division wasn’t there in the same way. He relied more on position than reaction, working at a steady pace against an opponent who offered little variation. A 120-108 scoreline reads dominant, but Makhmudov’s limited movement turned it into a controlled exercise rather than a demanding fight.
That look wasn’t new. Fury showed similar signs in his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, where the speed and reflex edge that defined his prime was harder to spot over long stretches. Hearn’s comments push that pattern into the open.
Hearn has reason to press the point. By pointing to age and slower reactions, he builds a case that Anthony Joshua is the fresher elite heavyweight going into a potential meeting. He’s also slowing the process. While Fury has called for the fight, Hearn is targeting a July return for Joshua before a possible November showdown.
Fury did what he needed to do against Makhmudov. He won every round and took no damage. But he didn’t raise his level. Against a fighter like Joshua, that version may not hold up.
Hearn is reading the situation in real time. He sees a version of Fury that can still win, but not one that looks secure against the best heavyweights. That’s why the timing is important. If Fury takes another fight and looks worse, or loses, the Joshua matchup loses part of its appeal.
Right now, the fight sells on name recognition and the remaining uncertainty around both fighters. Wait too long, and that changes. What still feels like a meaningful fight risks turning into something closer to a late-stage attraction.
