Despite remarkable rivalry, Eddie Hearn lists ‘reasons’ to back Tyson Fury over Oleksandr Usyk
Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn predicted against his former fighter Oleksandr Usyk in his upcoming match against Tyson Fury.

Eddie Hearn gives his prediction for the upcoming fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk (Image via Imago)
One of the most highly anticipated rematches in the boxing community is scheduled for this weekend. The fight will feature two of the skilled heavyweight boxers: Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. Many prominent figures have weighed in on this matchup, with the latest comments coming from Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn.
The pre-fight press conference for the clash between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury took place last night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Interestingly, apart from the highly buzzed face-off between Usyk and Fury, other moments caught many by surprise. One such instance was when the CEO of Matchroom Boxing, Eddie Hearn gave a shocking prediction for the clash this weekend.
I’ve got a lot of history with Oleksandr Usyk but I’m backing Tyson Fury. Of course he’s the Brit… I know we have had our differences, Tyson Fury is capable of extraordinary things. Can’t believe I’m saying it but may Tyson Fury be victorious on Saturday night for Britain.
Eddie Hearn via Usyk vs Fury 2 pre-fight presser
Interestingly, Fury and Hearn, both prominent figures in the boxing world and fellow countrymen do not enjoy a close relationship. This tension stems primarily from Fury’s ongoing rivalry with Hearn’s marquee fighter, Anthony Joshua. Their dynamics took an unexpected turn when Hearn, despite their differences and the competitive backdrop, publicly voiced his support for Fury in his quest to overcome Usyk.
Interestingly, there is another reason why Hearn’s support for the British boxer surprised many. Fury’s upcoming opponent, Usyk, had signed with Matchroom Boxing a few years ago.
“Can’t believe I’m saying it but may Tyson Fury be victorious Saturday night for Britain!” – Eddie Hearn
— Fight Hub TV (@FightHubTV) December 19, 2024
Eddie Hearn in disbelief explains why he backs Tyson Fury over Oleksandr Usyk.
FULL CLIP: https://t.co/WDojAAZAZe pic.twitter.com/SJXbDFLcCw
Despite the strong camaraderie between them, Hearn did not pick the Ukrainian boxer to win against Fury. As such, the Matchroom boss seemingly wants the British boxer to win for their country. In the context of this exciting clash, a top boxer from Matchroom Boxing has also shared his thoughts on the fighters.
Anthony Joshua believes Tyson Fury is ‘not better’ than Oleksandr Usyk
Anthony Joshua has consistently been ranked among the top five heavyweight boxers of his generation. He also has the experience of competing against many of the best fighters in the division. One notable name in Joshua’s professional boxing record is Oleksandr Usyk. Having studied Usyk’s fighting style, AJ has shared his insights on the upcoming clash between Usyk and Tyson Fury.

In their initial encounter, Usyk narrowly defeated Fury by split decision. Interestingly, just hours after the fight, Joshua responded harshly to his fellow countryman’s poor performance against the Ukrainian boxer. Additionally, AJ stated that Usyk is a superior boxer to Fury in all aspects of the sport.
Me personally what I think, nah. No way. It’s not that I didn’t see enough. I just don’t think he can do it. It’s not that I don’t rate him, I just don’t think that he’s better than Usyk.
Anthony Joshua via IFL TV
Although Joshua has already faced Usyk and suffered defeats on both occasions, he has not fought against Fury yet. It will be interesting to see if they clash with each other after the fight between the Ukrainian boxer and the ‘Gypsy King’ this weekend.
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