According to Eddie Hearn, Anthony Joshua is not yet ready to fight Tyson Fury.
English professional boxer of Nigerian descent Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua may not get his dream fight next.
The 33-year-old Joshua defeated American professional boxer Jermaine Franklin at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday, April 1, 2023.
After 12 rounds of boxing, Joshua won against Franklin via a unanimous decision on the judges' scorecard.
Anthony Joshua on fighting Tyson Fury
After the victory against Franklin, Joshua expressed his willingness to return to the ring as soon as possible.
After back-to-back defeats against Ukranian professional Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua took a six months break.
Joshua wants to fight three times in 2023 and after the victory against Franklin wants to take on English professional boxer Tyson Fury next.
Joshua lost the IBF, IBO, WBA, and WBO titles to Usyk and now wants to challenge Fury the reigning WBC heavyweight champion.
Speaking at the press conference after the fight on facing Fury, He said, “100% Tyson Fury. I think that’s the pot of gold.
"That’s the WBC Heavyweight Champion of the world, bro. That’s what it’s about.”
Eddie Hearn dismisses Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury fight
British sports promoter and chairman of Matchroom Boxing has other plans for Joshua's next outing.
Hearn supported the idea of Joshua fighting Fury next speaking in the ring after victory against Franklin.
However, in a recent interview with the MMA Hour, Hearn wants Joshua to have another tune-up fight before facing an elite in the division like Fury.
He said, “Dillian Whyte, Otto Wallin. Joe Joyce is another big fight. It’s a tough fight.
"Who knows? I just feel that, if we’re gonna go into. a Fury or a Wilder fight, which is inevitable, I just want him to go in with the best chance that he can have.
"And I just feel that right now, he’s not at the optimum level he could be to go into that fight.
"He would still go into them and I still give him a chance in those fights. I believe he can win those fights.
"But I would just like to see him firing going into those fights, and what I saw on Saturday wasn’t AJ firing on all cylinders.”
Hearn already has three top contenders in the heavyweight division lineup for Joshua with a return scheduled for July or August.
20:15 - 02.04.2023
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Fury was unable to agree on an undisputed fight with Usyk and has been silent on Joshua's return to the division.
Joshua will now travel to Dallas, Texas in the United States to continue working with Derrick James ahead of his return to the ring.
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