Fury v AJ can happen, all it takes is a DM - Hearn

Promoter Eddie Hearn is confident Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua could still happen, and says all it takes is a direct message on social media between the fighters.

Fury, 36, retired from boxing a few weeks after a second successive loss to WBA (Super), WBC and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in December.

Joshua, 35, has been out of the ring since September's defeat by IBF title-holder Daniel Dubois.

"This is the kind of fight that probably gets made over a DM between the two or a text or a call," Hearn, who represents Joshua, told BBC Sport.

"It's like 'look, do you fancy it?' That's it. And then, bang, it's done."

Joshua, like Fury, is a two-time heavyweight world champion. A super-fight between two generational stars of British boxing has been mooted for several years but always stalled during negotiations.

"Neither of them are champions. Both are huge names, both at the back ends of their careers, but more importantly both are still relatively in their prime," Hearn said.

"Before AJ lost to Dubois, everyone said this is the best AJ we've ever seen. And Fury never really showed any signs of decline against Usyk. He just got beat by the pound-for-pound number one."

Hearn is certain Joshua will fight again by the end of 2025 but has only "one-to-three fights" left before he retires.

"If AJ was to lose again, [the Fury fight] isn't really there any more. Maybe his career isn't either, so we are not in any tearing rush," he said.

This week, Fury's co-promoter Bob Arum said he does not expect the fighter to return to boxing, but Hearn claims Fury and Arum "never really had the closest of relationships".

"Tyson looks in great shape. I think he said the other day he's training twice a day, so it'd be very easy for him to go into 10-week camp," Hearn added.

"The next decision for AJ is going to be really important. I hope it's Tyson Fury - we'll see what the boxing gods allow."