In an interview that is sure to get people talking, Eddie Hearn says Tyson Fury is a "bluff merchant" and cannot be considered one of the greatest of all time until he beats Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk.
'The Gypsy King' appeared to announce his retirement from boxing following his sixth round knockout win of Dillian Whyte on Saturday night.
In his post-fight interview, Fury said: "You know I promised my lovely wife Paris of 14 years that after the Wilder three fight that would be it and I meant it. It was a great trilogy but I meant that."
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He added: "I got offered to fight at Wembley, at home, and I believe I owed it to the fans and every person in the UK to fight at Wembley. I think this is it, this might be the final curtain for 'The Gypsy King'. What a way to go out."
The debate as to whether Fury will actuallty retire or not has been rife on social media.
And now, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has got involved by saying the two-time heavyweight champion is a "bluff merchant" in regards to his retirement claim.
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In fact, Hearn has played down talk that Fury is one of the greatest of all time, and believes he shouldn't be talked about in the same breath as Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and Lennox Lewis until he beats Usyk and Joshua.
"Tyson Fury is a great bluff merchant, he ain’t retiring," Hearn said on The DAZN Boxing Show.
"The biggest fights for Tyson Fury haven’t happened yet.
"He’s the best heavyweight on the planet right now, I’ll give him that, but when we talk about generational greatness? Yes, for this exact generation, but please… with victories over Wilder, Klitschko and Whyte, don’t talk about him in the same breath as Ali, Frazier and Lennox Lewis.
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"If he beat AJ and Usyk, I’d give him all the respect and be up there, but the jury is out on Deontay Wilder. His best win was Luis Ortiz; we don’t know the reality or the truth [of the debate].
"There is no argument Fury is No 1… well actually there could be an argument between Fury and Usyk, but with that resume, don’t call him a generational great.
"He may be the greatest of all time, I don’t think so, but he has got to prove it in your resume – not beating one guy [Wilder] three times.
"I give Fury the credit and respect of knocking people out. I said he wasn’t a one-punch knockout artist, I still don’t think he is compared to some of the other bigger-hitting guys. He’s proving me wrong.
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"I didn’t rate him before Klitschko, I thought he had no chance; he won nearly every round. I didn’t think he had a chance in Wilder 1, he won that fight, and I didn’t think he’d knock Whyte out, and he did. So, respect to the man."
Lennox Lewis, a former fighter Hearn believes to be greater than Fury, believes 'The Gypsy King' will fight Joshua or Usyk next, despite his retirement claims after his victory against Whyte.
"I would understand it, the guy has been working hard all of his life and if he promised his wife he wouldn’t box any more. That what he promised," Lewis told BT Sport.
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"I think he’s going to be back in the ring. I still hold the undisputed status. I’m the last man so if he wants it he’s going to have to stay."
Dillian Whyte, meanwhile, wants a rematch against Fury after what he believes was an "illegal" push following the knockout.
"I was buzzed but obviously I was trying to regather my senses and he proper pushed me and I fell over and hit my head on the canvas which is illegal," he told Sky Sports.
"This isn't wrestling, this is boxing. I should have been allowed extra time to recover and then carried on fighting.
"I got caught, no doubt about it. I got caught by a good shot. I went for the left uppercut, he went for the right uppercut. He's a bit taller than me, so obviously he landed his at range.
"I was hurt, I was trying to get my senses together and he full on, two-handed pushed me. It wasn't like a one-armed thing.
"Terrible job from the referee there, but it is, what it is.
"I should have had time to recover, time to go back to my corner, but Tyson Fury gets away with a lot of things.
"He said he would retire. I hope he doesn't retire, because I want another go.
"He said you're a good fighter, a true warrior, you're going to be a world champion. I'm not a sore loser. You win some, you lose some, this is life."
Thoughts on Eddie Hearn's claim that Tyson is not yet one of the greatest of all time?
Let us know in the comments.
Featured Image Credit: Fight Hub TV/AlamyTopics: Tyson Fury, Eddie Hearn, Anthony Joshua, Boxing, Dillian Whyte, Oleksandr Usyk, Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis
