Eddie Hearn believes Anthony Joshua’s performance against Jermaine Franklin won’t have done much in persuading fans that he can beat Tyson Fury. The Matchroom Boxing promoter admitted that AJ would be an underdog coming into the fight but is keen to make it happen, nevertheless.
Joshua soundly beat Franklin over 12 rounds at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday. He was declared the winner via unanimous decision with scorecards of 118-111, 117-111 and 117-111 in his favour.
However, despite promising a knockout coming in, the two-time heavyweight world champion wasn’t able to stop or drop the American throughout their fight. But Hearn is confident there are ‘much better’ displays to come.
“I think he’d be an underdog against Tyson Fury for sure,” he said during the post-fight press conference. “I don’t think it was a performance that will make people think he can beat Tyson Fury. But I know he can box much better than that and when he faces an opponent that is coming to win, he will box much better than that and I know next time he fights he will box much better than that.
“But like I say that fight is all about timing, and it’s like how long do you wait? If it’s there then it will be difficult not to take it.”
In the immediate aftermath, Joshua took to the mic and asked the fans who they wanted to see him fight next. As a cacophony of cries for Fury filled the arena, Joshua said: “I know who they want. They said Tyson Fury; the ball is in his court. I would be honoured to fight for the WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World.
“If he’s listening, he knows my promoter; we’ve had dialogue before, so let’s continue this. We ain’t getting any younger.”
Hearn went on to concur with Joshua’s point and claimed that they could make it happen in the summer. “AJ is going to want the biggest fights. Tonight, was a step down from Oleksandr Usyk, but there was huge pressure. He ended the fight well, but like he said they aren’t getting any younger. We would be willing to entertain those conversations to go straight into a Tyson Fury fight in the summer.”
Fury is yet to respond at the time of writing but has previously vowed to never entertain a matchup with his fierce rival again after their most recent breakdown in negotiations last December.
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