By: Sean Crose
“I am a dying breed.” Eddie Hearns says to iFL TV. If that’s true, the Brit is clearly working on his opus as his fighter Anthony Joshua is preparing for an epic match against Tyson Fury this coming December in Britain. ‘This is a UK fight,” he claims, “in the UK.” Sure enough it looked like this long anticipated bout was going to the United States just a few short weeks ago. Hearn, however, rightfully wanted the fight to go down in the British Isles. Now, that things have gone his (and other’s way) Hearn is satisfied.
“Don’t worry too much about America,” he says. “This is the biggest fight in British boxing history.” Spoken like a man who know how to hype an event. Is he truly a dying breed, though? The truth is that Americans are not hyperventilating for Joshua-Fury. While it will unquestionably bring in big numbers for Netflix, which is broadcasting the bout stateside, it will likely not do what Joshua’s fight with Jake Paul did last year – and that’s too bad. No doubt that’s at least part of the reason Hearn and others insisted the fight go down in the UK. It’s where the buzz will be – and a promoter, even a dying breed, knows to go where the buzz is to be found.
One interesting thing about Hearn is that he and Joshua stick together, seemingly through thick or thin. In a sport where some notable fighters jump from promoter to another, Hearn and Joshua have stuck it out for thirteen full years. That’s notable when one considers the fact that, thunderous power puncher he may be, Joshua has lost his fair share of fights. Oleksandr Usyk, Andy Ruiz, and Daniel Dubois have all bested the man. Yet he’s kept on going, all the time with Hearns by his side. These aren’t men what one might call weepy, but it’s nice to see their loyalty through their actions.
What’s more, sticking together has seemed to work out for each man. Joshua is about to engage in the biggest and no doubt most lucrative fight of 2026. Perhaps the same thing could have happened without the guidance and support of Hearn, but then again one doesn’t know. It’s also worth noting that aside from the fact that Joshua has kept the same promoter for years, he’s been known to switch trainers on numerous occasions. Clearly he feels that Hearn is worth keeping around.
“My loyalty’s with Eddie,” Joshua has said to talkSPORT, “so whatever he wants to do, if he wants to pull the plug, I’ll be right there tugging that plug with him.” Most star athletes aren’t known to say such things. Perhaps Joshua knows better than anybody what it’s like to have the last of a dying breed representing him. As things stand right now however both Hearn and Joshua need to keep their eye on Fury a man who’s been loyal to his own promoter Frank Warren. Indeed Fury has long begged the question is he crazy or crazy like a fox?
The truth is that this December’s fight is the culmination of each man’s career as well as the careers of Fury and Warren. This is just one of those bouts. It may be way too late but it’s still going to be relevant thanks to the public d9esire to see Joshua and Fury get it on in the ring. And indeed it is nice to see these two finally throwing down. Towering Englishman both, they along with Usyk and Deontay Wilder ended a heavyweight era that was lifeless and in need of energy. Say what one will about Hearn but he took his old school style and helped make something enormous out of it.
