An exciting offer is reportedly in the works for a massive showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, regardless of the outcome of Fury’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk. The rematch, set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 21, will see Fury and Usyk battle once again for the WBA, WBO, and WBC heavyweight titles after Usyk handed Fury his first career defeat via split decision in May.
The potential Fury-Joshua fight hinges on Joshua's performance in his upcoming bout against Daniel Dubois, which is scheduled for September 21 at Wembley Stadium. If Joshua secures a victory and reclaims the IBF title, Turki Alalshikh of the General Entertainment Authority, who is managing both the Dubois-Joshua and Fury-Usyk II events, is eager to set up what he describes as a "huge fight" between the two British heavyweights.
Alalshikh is realistic about the uncertainties of boxing, particularly in the heavyweight division. He acknowledges that while he wants to see Fury face Joshua, the future is unpredictable. He even hints at the possibility that Fury might consider retirement after his rematch with Usyk, which could complicate any plans for a Fury-Joshua fight. Despite these uncertainties, Alalshikh remains committed to pursuing the fight that fans around the world have long desired.
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The Saudi Arabian promoter’s plans could be at odds with those of Ben Davison, Joshua’s current trainer and former trainer of Fury, who has expressed a preference for a third bout between Joshua and Usyk following Joshua’s two previous losses to the Ukrainian champion. However, Alalshikh’s broader vision for the sport includes not only securing marquee matchups like Fury vs. Joshua but also making boxing more accessible to fans. He has ambitious plans to lower the cost of pay-per-views in the UK and the US and is even considering the creation of a boxing league to address the oversaturation of world titles across the sport's 17 weight divisions.
Alalshikh’s vision includes streamlining the number of world champions, which currently stands at a staggering 68 across various sanctioning bodies. By introducing a league system, he aims to bring more clarity and excitement to the sport, potentially reshaping the landscape of professional boxing. Whether his plans will come to fruition remains to be seen, but his determination to bring fans the fights they want to see, like Fury vs. Joshua, is clear.
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Image Credit: Sky Sports