According to Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn, Tyson Fury is not the lineal heavyweight champion of the world as that title doesn’t exist.
Despite Fury’s return to form in a draw with Deontay Wilder, most believed he won, Hearn refuses to acknowledge the 30 year-old being ‘the man’.
Fury, who took 31 months out after suffering mental health problems and substance abuse, was recognized as the lineal champion by Ring Magazine before problems hit.
After proving himself again Wilder, there are calls to reinstate Fury as The Ring’s number one.
WBN altered the top division ratings as a tribute to Fury overcoming the odds and putting his money where his mouth was against Wilder.
Eddie Hearn blasts Tyson Fury
For his part, Hearn is having none of it.
As any good promoter should, Hearn is backing his own guy, Anthony Joshua. Hearn sees Joshua as the division’s top star because the Londoner holds several versions of the world title.
Victories over Charles Martin, Wladimir Klitschko, and Joseph Parker put Joshua in the driving seat while Fury was away. But since his comeback, Hearn isn’t focused on a challenge against the ‘Gypsy King’ for now.
Hearn doesn’t believe Fury holds anything worth gaining for Joshua and sees belts as more important than the kudos on offer.
“I think if it was man on man and there were no belts, nothing, I think Joshua would probably prefer Fury because there’s always been the ‘oh he was the champ, you won his belts’ and stuff like that,” said Hearn, according to The Daily Star.
“So maybe that’s a little bit in his head, but he wants to be undisputed.
Lineal title
“Fury beat Klitschko, but this lineal thing is quite ridiculous.
“The lineal championship doesn’t actually exist. It’s a mythical title that people want to use when they don’t have any belts.
“So he’s the man who beat the man, something like that, who failed a drugs test, took two years out, and refused to train or get in the ring,” he added.
Joshua v Fury is obviously unavailable to Hearn due to his ongoing rivalry with Frank Warren. Therefore, Hearns is solely pushing to face Deontay Wilder despite a rematch with Fury being on the cards.
With Wilder tied up, the winner of Dillian Whyte v Dereck Chisora – which has long been on the cards for Joshua – is expected to take place on April 13 in London.
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