Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, expects Tyson Fury to reverse his decision to retire, suggesting it is a ploy to earn a bigger pay day.
Fury announced earlier on Monday in a short social media video that he was walking away from the sport. The 36-year-old bows out having lost his final two fights, both to Oleksandr Usyk.
It is the second time Fury has retired, having in 2022 called time on his career only to months later return to the ring to beat Derek Chisora.
Reacting to Fury’s announcement, Hearn told iFL TV: "I saw that coming, yeah. I saw that coming.
"If you ever want to come back and get the max, you have to retire first, haven’t you? Someone then has to bring you out of retirement.
"If that’s the last we see of Tyson Fury then good luck to him. I doubt it personally but whatever he chooses to do, much respect to him.
"I think he’ll want to fight again, I think he will get bored and he will know the British public want to see the AJ fight.
"My personal belief if we’ll see him in the ring again. If not then good luck to the man."
Fury has long been expected to fight Joshua in an all-British super-fight, and Hearn still expects the bout to happen despite Monday's news.
Hearn continued: "If he wants to retire there’s nothing we can do about it. If he’s up for the fight – the biggest fight in the sport – then great. My gut feeling is we’ll see it.
"AJ wants that fight. Maybe Fury hasn’t got it in him anymore and hasn’t got the heart for it. If he hasn’t then he should retire."
