TYSON FURY is still behind Anthony Joshua when it comes to being a boxing powerhouse.
That's the view of top promoter Eddie Hearn.
The Gypsy King has become a household name across the globe thanks to his epic trilogy with American knockout artist Deontay Wilder.
Fury, 33, sold a record 94,000 tickets for his final defence of the WBC heavyweight title against Dillian Whyte in April – but promoter Hearn insists the Wythenshawe warrior isn't top dog in the sport.
He told GQ: "Tyson Fury isn't the biggest draw in boxing. Anthony Joshua still is. But yes – he's a huge star.
"But I am loyal to AJ, and I think Fury knew that when I was discussing signing him when he was 400lbs.
READ MORE IN SPORT
Hearn reveals how he tried to sign Fury… but Gypsy King ‘knew he’d be behind AJ’
New season just 3 days away – pick your Dream Team & chase £100,000 prize pot
"But you never know what could happen in the future."
The pay-per-view numbers generated by the British rivals would suggest Hearn is indeed correct.
Only ONE of Fury's six pay-per-view bouts prior to his clash with Whyte generated over a million buys.
Joshua, in comparison, has raked in well over a million buys in SEVEN of his ten pay-per-view outinga.
Most read in Boxing
BRITISH BEEF 
Tyson Fury in talks over comeback as he offers Chisora a December trilogy bout
Boxing fans are all saying the same thing as Iranian Hulk KNOCKED OUT in debut
Fury & Paris head out for tea at swanky restaurant as Brit enjoys retirement
Chamberlain shows off 'battle scars' following epic fight with Billam-Smith
PLAY DREAM TEAM NOW FOR FREE WITH £100k IN PRIZE MONEY
AJ also boasts significantly more followers on social media than the former unified heavyweight champion.
Joshua, 32, has a combined 17.5million followers on Twitter and Instagram in comparison to Fury's 7.8m.
Fury is currently enjoying his retirement from boxing, which he announced after his brutal sixth-round knockout of Whyte,
Joshua, meanwhile, is gearing up for a high-stakes rematch with Oleksandr Usyk – whom he'll face in Saudi a fortnight on Saturday.
AJ has kept to himself since his ill-fated clash with the undefeated Ukrainian, who put on a boxing masterclass in their Tottenham tussle last September.
Hearn said: “There’s a lot of pressure in AJ’s world. I feel like he’s lived in this bubble for a long time. AJ doesn’t go out, really.
"He trains. He goes back to one of his houses. He sees his mates, does a bit of motocross, plays a bit of FIFA. But that’s it.
Read More on The Sun
Tesco sets off fuel pump war after slashing petrol by 6.5p after Asda cut prices
We spent £9K renovating our fence – our neighbours then turned it 180 degrees
“When you live in that world and you suffer defeat, it's very lonely. Everyone turns on you.
"The adulation that you received from the public turns to, ‘Oh you lost mate, you ain’t actually that good, you’re useless.’ And I feel that he's a very proud man."
Source: Read Full Article