Experts in the global boxing community are worried that the much expected blockbuster unification fight between Nigerian-born world champion, Anthony Olaseni Oluwafemi Joshua and his fellow-British rival, Tyson ury may never hold again, if both fail to survive their upcoming mandatory bouts.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, with Joshua ordered to a mandatory title defence against Oleksander Usyk and Fury needing to finish a three-fight agreement with USA’s Deontay Wilder, all odds appear staked against the fight everyone wants to see.
That fear has been buttressed by a survey showing that the Joshua-Fury fight could jolly well be done for, after Wilder scuppered plans for a world heavyweight title unification bout this summer with his victory in court.
A report by Yahoo Spots’ boxing writer, Ben Burrows added: “A two-fight deal between WBA, IBF and WBO champ Joshua and Fury, who owns the WBC title, was finally agreed earlier this year.
“Eddie Hearn had all but confirmed the fight will take place in Saudi Arabia on 14 August with an exact fight venue in the final stages of being decided.
“However, Wilder, who lost his second fight with Fury back in 2020, believed he remained contractually obliged to a rematch and took his case to an independent arbitration panel to decide.
“After months of testimony from the two parties including depositions from Top Rank and Premier Boxing Champions, the arbitrator ruled in the American’s favour plunging plans for the fight between the two Brits into chaos.
“Fury had announced in May that the British pair would clash in Saudi Arabia on 14 August but he has now been told he must undertake a third fight against Wilder first.
“After controversially drawing their first fight in 2018, Fury sensationally knocked Wilder out in their rematch in Las Vegas in February 2020 in what proved to be his last action in the ring.
“Attempts to secure a third fight were complicated by an injury to Wilder, an absence of available television dates and the Covid pandemic prompting Fury to move on based on the assumption that any agreement had expired.
“Judge Daniel Weinstein has now upheld Wilder’s claim that he is contractually due a rematch with Fury, which must take place before 15 September this year (but) there are a few available options for the Fury camp.
“First, the arbitration verdict could still be appealed. Should the verdict be overturned then it will be once again be full speed ahead for the fight in August.
“Alternatively Fury could proceed with his plan to fight Joshua as planned, but then would be liable for significant damages should Wilder then take legal action against him.”
