Barry Hearn EXCLUSIVE: Tyson Fury can’t punch but is a great personality, Andy Ruiz Jr’s the top fighter who looks like a pizza delivery driver
Barry Hearn has run the rule over the heavyweight division, giving his thoughts exclusively to talkSPORT.
The Matchroom Sport chairman, who delegates the promotion of Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte to his son, Eddie, discussed the main rivals of their men, including Tyson Fury and Andy Ruiz Jr.
Hearn Sr admitted he was shocked by AJ’s recent defeat to Ruiz Jr, despite the fact he refused to underestimate the underdog before the fight.
“There were 6,000 people at the weigh-in shouting, ‘You fat b*****d,’” Hearn recalled on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast on talkSPORT.
“They just didn’t realise that this kid can fight, Ruiz can fight.
“He’s always been a decent fighter. Quick hands and, for a man who looks like a pizza delivery driver, you lull yourself into a bit of a false sense of security.
“I kept saying to everyone, I knew the kid’s had 160 amateur fights, I saw him fight Joseph Parker in New Zealand.
“He lost a split decision, but frankly he was the away fighter, I could have given it to him, it was a close fight.
“The frustration is that he’s not really known as a massive puncher. It’s just that when AJ went in for the kill, he went in so open.
"He literally walked onto one and he doesn’t remember anything really since the third round.”
Elsewhere in boxing’s glamour division, ‘lineal’ champion Tyson Fury is on a collision course for a rematch with WBC king Deontay Wilder.
Despite previously exchanging words with the ‘Gypsy King’ in the media, Hearn praised his boxing ability, though also didn’t hesitate to point out his lack of punch power.
Hearn continued: “He’s a character and he’s also a good fighter.
“I think he’s a great mover, but be honest, he can’t punch.
“If he had power, he would be sensational because he’s so difficult to tag.
“But although he talks about, ‘I’m gonna knock him out,’ he actually doesn’t do it because he can’t punch.
“When I say, ‘can’t punch,’ he could knock me out, but he couldn’t necessarily- he doesn’t throw enough punches, his record shows it.
“But you can’t take it away that he’s 6ft 9ins, he’s built well, he’s got himself in shape, he looks great.
“He’s one of those things that we always talk about in sport, he’s a personality.
“He’s not yet established selling enough tickets and getting enough pay-per-view buys, but I think he’s on vertical growth.”
You can catch WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in the flesh at the famous ICC Arena in Birmingham on July 27 at the marquee event of his UK tour with Showfighter and Gold Star. talkSPORT will be in attendance so click or more information on the event and get your tickets .