Anthony Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn says Tyson Fury is at risk of rupturing a healed wound above his right eye if in fact Joshua joins Fury as a sparring partner for the rematch with Deontay Wilder on Feb. 22.
Hearn told iTV Monday that he wouldn’t be surprised if Joshua in fact did spar with Fury, who is expected to train in Detroit with new cornerman SugarHill Steward.
“Doesn’t matter what I or (Joshua trainer) Rob (McCracken) will say, he’ll just go,’’ Hearn said. “I wouldn’t want to open up that cut.”
There were some of the same concerns when Fury jumped into pro-wrestling in Saudi Arabia on Oct. 31. He emerged from that Halloween show with no reported issues with the cut, which required 42 stitches in surgery on the day after Fury suffered the nasty wound in a decision over Otto Wallin on Sept. 14 in Las Vegas.
Fury, who also sustained a cut on his right eyelid against Wallin, was cleared to resume sparring this month. However, boxing isn’t scripted like pro wrestling.
Accidents happen, in sparring and fights. Wilder has already promised to test the cut early and often in their ESPN/Fox pay-per-view fight at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.
“I’m going to find out just how good his plastic surgeon is,’’ Wilder said at a news conference in late September.