- Eddie Hearn has revealed that the British showdown could finally happen this year
- Both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua were expected to take the fight on the back of losing
Eddie Hearn has revealed he has booked out Wembley Stadium ahead of a potential all-British showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
The two British heavyweights have shared a long and bitter rivalry over the years, with at times constant speculation that a highly anticipated fight between them would finally take place.
But despite strong public support for a fight and significant conjecture and negotiations, a showdown never took place.
Earlier this month, rumors circulated on social media that a fight between Joshua and Fury had finally been agreed in what would be dubbed ‘The Battle of Britain’ and perhaps the biggest fight in British boxing history, set for April 26 at 1 p.m. Wembley.
And Hearn has revealed he has booked the iconic Wembley Stadium for the fight which could take place in ‘May or June’ – but admitted it all comes down to Fury’s decision after his recent loss to Oleksandr Usyk.
‘Yes. We want to get back into the ring in May or June. If it ends up being July, it doesn’t really matter,” Hearn told Sky Sports at the Ring Awards when asked if he had booked a Wembley date.
Anthony Joshua (left) and Tyson Fury (right) have shared a bitter rivalry over the years
Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn says the showdown could finally happen this year
Hearn says he has booked Wembley Stadium ahead of a possible match in May or June
‘I still think it rests on Tyson Fury. Until the water recedes from the defeat and where he is mentally and what he wants to do, we’ll really find out.
“Because when he looks at the options, what else is he going to do and who else is he going to fight?”
Joshua confirmed speculation about a fight against Fury earlier this month by laying out his plan for the coming year.
“In 2025, I’m targeting Tyson Fury,” the 35-year-old explained during a trip to meet Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
Joshua’s last fight took place in September when he faced Daniel Dubois in an attempt to become a three-time world heavyweight champion.
Ultimately, however, Dubois would hand AJ the fourth defeat of his professional career by stopping him in the fifth round and defending his IBF title in the process.
Joshua was expected to play Dubois again in early 2025, before being convinced to recover from injuries and seek a return later in the year.
The Watford-born fighter told Ring Magazine: ‘After my last fight I took some time out. I let my body heal, which I’m still working on today, and I turned down some business opportunities so I could focus on the sport, which takes away both the mental and physical pressure.
Joshua’s last fight came in September when he was knocked out by Daniel Dubois
Meanwhile, Fury suffered a second successive defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last month
“I went away with family which is always good and we’ll be back for 2025 and I’m feeling good.
‘It’s a fight [Joshua vs Fury] I want to see it because I’m a boxing fan, so I want to get that fight going.
‘When I’m at the local gym, everyone asks me, and the reason I decided to do some interesting things (on social media) is because I don’t have many years ahead of me. I have more years behind me.
“So what I want to do is leave the game with a bang and make an impact.
“Be bizarre, have a great character, have fun with it while we do it and go for the big fights. Tyson Fury is one of them.
‘Every time I see people they say, “If you fight Fury?” The Irish community, the English community, the Nigerian community, everyone asks me the same question.
‘As a fighter it is up to me to perform. It has to happen this year.’