Eddie Hearn says Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk isn’t ‘big enough’ to be hosted in Saudi Arabia

Eddie Hearn has claimed that Tyson Fury’s upcoming fight against Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship is “not big enough” to take place in Saudi Arabia.

The pair are set to fight in April, with SportsMail exclusively reporting last week that the fight could take place at London’s Wembley Stadium, after Saudi Arabian bidders failed to confirm construction of their new stadium in Jeddah could be completed on time.

While greater riches are on offer for fights in the Middle East, Hearn has claimed that the only fighter who can attract the money to fight there is his Matchroom Boxing client, Anthony Joshua.

“The fight is not big enough,” said the Promoter, for BoxingScene. “The fight is not big enough for the money Tyson Fury wants because it doesn’t involve Anthony Joshua.

‘[Joshua] He may be the only guy who can handle that kind of money, but hopefully we can make Tyson Fury [fight] against Anthony Joshua, and then Tyson will get the numbers he wants.’

Eddie Hearn says Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk ‘isn’t big enough’ to be hosted in Saudi Arabia

The pair could fight at the end of April, with Wembley Stadium touted as the host venue.

Joshua has fought twice in the country before, beating Andy Ruiz Jr in Diriyah in 2019 and losing his second fight to Usyk via split decision at the Jeddah Superdome last year.

But it’s been a tough few months for the Matchroom boxer, who after bouncing back from a tough loss to the Ukrainian, will now go head-to-head against Jermaine Franklin at the end of April.

Hearn has now gone on record twice saying a fight between Joshua and the Gypsy King could happen if the former heavyweight champion can beat Franklin this year.

Meanwhile, talks between Fury, 34, and Usyk, 36, have been raging for some time, but could be coming to a head.

But Hearn believes his fighter Joshua (left) is the only fighter in the division who can command the money associated with staging a fight in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Fury’s team (left) reportedly booked Wembley ahead of the fight.

Both are undefeated in their careers, with the Ukrainian holding all of Joshua’s former WBA Super, IBF, IBO and WBO titles, and Fury’s former Ring Magazine belt.

In the other corner, Fury gained custody of the WBC belt after defeating Deontay Wilder in 2022, meaning the winner of this matchup will become the first unified heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis clinched the accolade in 2000. .

The British boxer has always had a preference for fighting in front of his home crowd, and Fury’s Queensberry promoters booked Wembley in advance for the fight, which could take place on April 29.

Negotiations between the pair are reportedly ‘winding down’ according to promoter Bob Arum.

And according to promoter Bob Arum, negotiations surrounding the fight could be drawing near.

“We are looking to put the fight at Wembley Stadium and we are getting close to negotiations with Usyk and his promoter K2 and with Tyson,” Arum said. Boxing i.D..

“So hopefully we can get busy with that fight as soon as next week and get it going.

“We would very much like to do a press conference not only in London, but also to bring the fighters to New York and do a press conference in New York.”