Eddie Hearn reveals that conversations have begun for a possible step aside deal for Anthony Joshua to allow Tyson Fury to face Oleksandr Usyk next for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
During an interview on Friday, Hearn casually mentioned that Joshua might need $40 million for the step aside, which obviously will not happen.
Hearn says that if the offer from Fury’s team makes sense, he’ll present it to former IBF/WBA/WBO champion Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs), but until then, AJ will be facing Usyk next as planned.
According to Hearn, Joshua just wants the rematch with Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) to avenge his loss to the Ukrainian fighter last September.
Fury’s Team Trying To Save AJ
Joshua was beaten soundly by a 12 round unanimous decision in London and came within an eyelash of being knocked out in the final round. The way that Usyk thrashed Joshua, he’ll undoubtedly do the same in the rematch and end what’s left of his career.
Team Fury would take the fight with Usyk next because they believe their fighter has a better chance of beating him than AJ.
It’s not because they’re trying to hog the glory from having their fighter Fury be the one that defeats Usyk to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. It’s more of a case of Fury’s team wanting to preserve a future mega-fight with Joshua by taking care of Usyk for him.
If Joshua stumbles into the rematch with Usyk, blinded by his anger from being humiliated by the Ukrainian last September, he’s likely to lose again but worse.
That second defeat by Joshua will sink the hopes of a mega-fight against Fury because AJ will be seen as a washed-up fighter living off the dreams of his past accomplishments.
“Yeah, their team has reached out to us,” said Eddie Hearn to Boxing King Media on Tyson Fury’s team had contacted him on a possible step aside deal for Joshua to allow Fury to face Oleksandr Usyk next.
Joshua Might Need $40M For Step Aside
Suppose Hearn is serious about Joshua needing $40 million to step aside. In that case, he’s going to be stubborn about it and take the rematch with Usyk, oblivious to what he’s about to do to his career. Being obstinate isn’t going to help Joshua and Hearn.
“Seven figures? One million,” said Hearn when asked if Joshua was offered seven figures for the step aside. “If you want to get him [Joshua] not to fight Oleksandr Usyk, you better times that by about forty,” said Hearn in making it clear that Joshua would need $40 million in step aside money to get him not to fight Usyk.
See what I mean? Hearn seems out of touch with reality regarding what’s about to happen to Joshua when he faces Usyk again.
Hearn should be overjoyed that Team Fury throws Joshua a lifeline to save him from a career-ending second loss to Usyk. Instead, he’s acting like he’s doing Tyson a favor by humoring the conversations.
“We’ll see. At the moment, there’s communication between the two teams to see if it’s something [that’s possible for Joshua to step aside],” Hearn continued.
“The answer is, AJ’s not spoken about this year. I’ll deal with it, and when I feel there’s an opportunity for Anthony and 258, we’ll sit down with them and present that to them.
“But I don’t want to do that until I feel it’s the right opportunity because he’s not going to be happy because he just wants to fight Oleksandr Usyk.
“If there’s a route and an offer and it makes sense, we’ll see,” said Hearn on the possibility of Joshua stepping aside. “But right now, just conversations between the two camps.
“He [Dillian Whyte] has to continue his arbitration process. That fight gets ordered [by the WBC], he’s in a great position as well, and I don’t know what’s going to happen.
“At the moment, Anthony Joshua is fighting Oleksandr Usyk. That’s the situation,” said Hearn.