Eddie Hearn explains turning down Tyson Fury: I thought he'd never fight again

Matchroom head Eddie Hearn said he chose not to sign Tyson Fury in 2017 because he was unsure when he would return to the ring.

The promoter met with the fighter when he had been away from action for a year and weight 26 stone, with Fury enduring mental health struggles.

Of course Fury would ultimately pull off a hugely successful comeback, which sees him WBC champion following three huge fights with Deontay Wilder, and with the chance to become undisputed heavyweight down the line in 2022.

Speaking on Boxing Social, Hearn explained how and why the decision came about.

"It's hard because AJ is a close friend of mine," Hearn began. "I always wanted them two to fight have AJ be our guy and I could just imagine beating him.

"With Tyson, I flew him out to Monaco and he was about 26-stone. He was sweating, and I just thought to myself: ‘You ain't ever fighting again'.

"So the plan was to have two easy fights, by that we meant the likes of Sefer Seferi which he did, but then have a step-up and fight like Manuel Charr.

"I was just thinking... If I had known that he would fight Sefer Seferi, someone else and then Deontay Wilder I would have been all over it."

Hearn said he wished he had the chance to take part in the Fury vs Wilder series.

"I don't have regret. But would I have love to have been involved in Fury-Wilder? Of course, that's my bread and butter!” he admitted

"That's what I live for, but at the same time I know we had Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora and those kinds of people but it would have been a really awkward situation to try and have both Fury and AJ.

"You can't say you wouldn't respect a fighter and a character like Tyson Fury because he's become a big star."