EDDIE HEARN claims Anthony Joshua’s step-aside plan fell apart because Tyson Fury could not be trusted.
Heavyweight Joshua, 32, was reluctant to duck out of his Oleksandr Usyk rematch to let Ukraine’s WBA, IBF and WBO champ challenge Fury, 33, for his WBC belt.
And the Gypsy King’s demand for a warm-up bout next month, further delaying AJ’s potential shot at the undisputed crown, canned the complicated multi-fight plan.
AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn, who also oversees WBC mandatory Dillian Whyte, said: “We don’t trust Fury to turn up to one fight, let alone agree to two, three or four.
“AJ did not want to step aside and when Fury asked for a March fight he really did not want to step aside.
“We had to trust Fury to have a fight in March, then Usyk in June, AJ in December, then Dillian.
“I had to tell AJ that and he could not trust him.”
Fury insisted the plan was KO’d because AJ wanted a £15million step-aside fee upped to £20m.
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But Hearn says the amount only changed when Team Fury moved the goalposts by asking for the March tune-up.
Fury and Whyte, 33, are now set to meet in April, followed by 35-year-old Usyk’s Joshua rematch.
But Hearn added: “Just based on his track record, I won’t be surprised if Tyson pulls out.
“Tyson would not fight Usyk without a warm-up fight.
“He’s just fought Deontay Wilder, what does he need a warm-up for?”
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