Eddie Hearn is already shaping the narrative around Tyson Fury’s return, and his reading is consistent with what was shown in the ring on Saturday night.
Hearn told Ring Magazine that the performance “didn’t show me anything to suggest he would beat Anthony Joshua.” It’s a harsh comment, but it fits the eye test. Fury handled Arslanbek Makhmudov with ease, controlling the rounds and staying out of danger. The problem is what it looked like to do it.
The movement that once separated Fury from the division was not there in the same way. He relied more on position than reaction, working at a steady pace against an opponent who offered little variation. A score of 120-108 reads dominant, but Makhmudov’s limited movement turned this into a controlled exercise rather than a demanding fight.
That look was not new. Fury showed similar signs in his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, where the edge of speed and reflexes that defined his peak was harder to spot over long stretches. Hearn’s comments open up that pattern.
Hearn has reason to press the point. By pointing to age and slower reactions, he builds a case that Anthony Joshua is the fresher elite heavyweight going into a potential meeting. He also slows down the process. While Fury has called for the fight, Hearn is targeting a July return for Joshua ahead of a possible November showdown.
Fury did what he had to do against Makhmudov. He won every round and took no damage. But he didn’t raise his level. Against a fighter like Joshua, that version may not hold up.
Hearn reads the situation in real time. He sees a version of Fury that can still win, but not one that looks safe against the best heavyweights. Therefore, the timing is important. If Fury takes another fight and looks worse, or loses, the Joshua fight loses some of its appeal.
Right now, the fight is selling on name recognition and the remaining uncertainty surrounding both fighters. Wait too long, and it changes. What still feels like a meaningful fight risks turning into something closer to a late-stage draw.
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Last updated on 2026/04/15 at 18:36
