Joshua v Fury willbe a ‘global phenomenon’
Barry Hearn has no doubts Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight mega-fight with Tyson Fury will be one of the biggest spectacles in sporting history.
The hard-hitting British world champions have penned a staggering £200m two-fight deal for their hugely-anticipated clash of the titans.
And Hearn, who lived through Muhammad Ali’s famous ‘Thrilla in Manilla’ and ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ fights with Joe Frazier and George Foreman respectively, believes this bruising bout will be one for the ages.
The successful promoter even joked the super-fight could even surpass England’s hallowed 1966 World Cup final win.
“I think it will be one of those memory moments,” admitted Hearn.
“This is a truly global phenomenon event. It’s one of the biggest sporting events ever.
“You put it alongside Ali-Frazier, AliForeman, because the whole world will be watching.
“Football is the most famous sport of all and for me ’66 you thought ‘wow, I can’t wait for the next one’ and I ain’t seen one since!
“Boxing because of the dramatic nature of the sport gives you memories where you ask ‘where were you when Nigel Benn fought Chris Eubank in 1990? or when Lennox Lewis fought Frank Bruno?’
“These are all massive sporting events but they all pale in comparison to the scale of Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury.”
Undefeated Fury has stated he’s stopped training and is drinking up to a dozen pints a night until a fight date is confirmed.
But Hearn stressed AJ, who is managed by his son Eddie, won’t get drawn into Fury’s famous pre-fight antics and is only worried about knocking his rival out to become the undisputed heavyweight champion.
“If I believed that of Tyson Fury then I’d look out of my window and it’d already be dark,” joked Hearn.
“Joshua is a lot more laid back in his preparation than Tyson, can you imagine Joshua coming out and saying ‘I’m drinking 12 pints of Stella a day’.
“One of the fascinating things is they’re such different people.
“Tyson’s an entertainer but Joshua knows his role in this soap opera is to close the show.”