Tyson Fury boxing rematch gets green light just weeks after Oleksandr Usyk loss
Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury by unanimous decision before Christmas to hand the former unified world heavyweight boxing champion the second defeat of his professional career
Eddie Hearn believes a Tyson Fury rematch with Wladimir Klitschko could make sense if the retired Ukrainian boxer returns to the sport.
Klitschko, who turns 49 in March, lost to Fury a decade ago in what turned out to be his penultimate fight. The Manchester-born boxer won unanimously to become a world heavyweight champion for the first time, but Klitschko had a rematch clause, and they were due to fight again six months later.
A second fight was scheduled for Manchester Arena after the first bout took place in Klitschko’s adopted home of Germany. Fury, though, postponed that date after spraining his ankle during training, and UK Anti-Doping charged him after finding unacceptable levels of the banned substance nandrolone in a sample taken 16 months earlier.
Another postponement followed after Fury was found “medically unfit” to fight. Reports later emerged that he had tested positive for cocaine in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association random urine sample.
Awaiting an investigation into that case, Fury vacated his titles, acknowledging he could not mentally or physically defend them in the ring. The British Boxing Board of Control then suspended his boxing licence. Klitschko then fought Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium for those belts, being knocked out during the 11th round.
Klitschko retired months later in 2017, but speculation about a return to the ring began to build late last year. Boxing promoter Turki Alalshikh spoke before the Fury vs Usyk rematch about giving him the chance to fight Fury again and become the oldest heavyweight champion, with the record held by George Foreman at 46 years old
Hearn has now addressed Klitschko’s fighting again. “Wladimir’s bright enough to make his own decision,” the promoter said, speaking to Betfred.
“He’s had a long time out of the ring since the Anthony Joshua fight, but he’s kept himself in tremendous physical condition. It wasn’t as if Wladimir looked terrible in that fight. He almost beat AJ [Anthony Joshua].
“However, I do believe it would be difficult to come back, but he’s a very strong man, a great man and whatever decision he makes, I’m sure it’ll be the right one for him.” Hearn added: “He has to pick the right style to take on. A fight with Tyson Fury could make sense, but he got beat, so we’ll have to see.”
