Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed that Anthony Joshua has remained quiet following Tyson Fury’s sudden announcement of retirement.
The news came on Monday when Fury, known as the ‘Gypsy King,’ declared he was stepping away from boxing after suffering a defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last month.
“Hi everybody, I’m going to make this short and sweet,” Fury said in his retirement post.
“I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing. It has been a blast, I’ve loved every single minute of it, and I’m going to end with this: Dick Turpin wore a mask.”
The announcement has sent shockwaves through the boxing world, seemingly putting an end to the possibility of a long-anticipated clash between Fury and Joshua.
The fight, touted as a historic £150 million event, was expected to take place in 2025, offering both fighters a chance to restore their legacies following recent defeats.
Despite the buzz, Hearn shared that Joshua has not reacted to the news and remains focused on his own career.
Speaking to iFL TV, Hearn said, “Listen, one… we don’t really take it too seriously. Two… if it is serious, there’s nothing we can do about it anyway.”
“What do you think goes on? Do you think Josh is going to phone me up and go, ‘Oh Ed, have you seen the news, mate?’ He’s not that kind of guy.”
When asked if he had received any word from Joshua since Fury’s announcement, Hearn responded, “Not one,” before speculating on Fury’s intentions:
“He could have been doing it because he’s got the ump. He could have been doing it for some attention. He could have been doing it because it’s true. What’s the point in guessing?”
A Negotiating Tactic?
In a separate interview, Hearn expressed skepticism over the sincerity of Fury’s announcement, suggesting it might be a strategic move.
“I’m not going to accuse him of not being genuine, but I think you get a better deal coming out of retirement,” Hearn explained.
“Or maybe he just hasn’t got the stomach for it anymore. He got beat twice and has had enough. I doubt it, but who knows? I don’t know him well enough to know, but maybe he’s done.”
Despite Fury’s claims, Hearn remains optimistic about a potential showdown between Joshua and Fury.
“My gut feeling is we will see AJ against Fury this summer. But maybe he’s for real.”
