Eddie Hearn, promoter for Anthony Joshua, is giving WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury the edge in a potential 2023 undisputed clash with IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Usyk has picked up back to back decision wins over Joshua.

There were serious talks for a Fury-Joshua encounter in December, but the talks eventually fell apart. Fury is now scheduled to face Derek Chisora in a trilogy fight on December 3 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Hearn had to deal with a heavy amount of backlash after stating that a Fury vs. Usyk encounter would not be a "good fight to watch" - but he also noted that he finds the contest to be a "compelling fight."

“I got criticism on that because I said I don’t think it’s a great fight… but I think it’s a compelling fight,” Hearn said to IntuBoxing.

“You’ve got two very awkward, tricky customers. For a hardcore boxing fan I think it would be fascinating, but they wouldn’t just start knocking lumps out of each other."

Months ago, Hearn backed Usyk to win the undisputed encounter, but he now believes the much bigger Fury will edge the contest due to his physical attributes.

“I probably give the edge to Tyson Fury because of his size. I just feel like I’ve always overlooked him in fights, like [Wladimir] Klitschko, [Deontay] Wilder, so I should give him the respect that he deserves. But I do think Usyk is very tough to beat.”

Hearn will be a very interested observer in that encounter, because Joshua is still very focused on landing a fight with Fury in the coming year.