Fury was ‘very lucky’ to avoid a shock defeat against Wallin, says Hearn

Tyson Fury was “very lucky” to avoid a shock defeat against Otto Wallin after suffering a cut that could jeopardise his February rematch with Deontay Wilder, says Eddie Hearn.

Britain’s former world champion battled to a points win over Wallin last weekend, despite sustaining a gaping wound over his right eye in the third round at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

But Hearn believes Fury was fortunate to avoid a stoppage loss as the referee ruled the cut had been caused by a punch, and the Matchroom Boxing boss questioned whether the heavyweight can recover in time for an expected second fight with WBC champion Wilder.

“I haven’t seen it, because I was on a plane, but I landed and checked my social media and saw the scores and saw the cut,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “I think firstly he’s very lucky not to lose the fight with that cut.

“I think any other country in the world, they would have stopped the fight. I just think in those fights against that opposition sometimes you don’t get yourself motivated to perform and obviously he didn’t perform at his best, but he had the injury as well and I think you’ll see him perform a lot better against the likes of Wilder and stuff like that.

“I don’t know how long he’s going to be out for. I don’t think he’ll be ready for his February fight, but I don’t think Wilder will be ready for the February fight either, so it might work in their favour. I expect a different Tyson Fury against Wilder, if that rematch gets made.”

Anthony Joshua will attempt to reclaim his world titles in a rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr on December 7, live on Sky Sports Box Office, and Hearn still hopes his fighter could take on Fury or Wilder in the future.