British heavyweight Anthony Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) lost his championship belts in September in a confrontation with Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) and even failed to regain them in the August rematch. However, it is possible that he will have a chance to complete the calendar year as a champion – he is negotiating a fight with compatriot Tyson Fury (32-0-1, 23 KOs) who holds the WBC belt.
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Promoter Joshua Eddie Hearn (Matchroom Boxing) does not hide the fact that he does not really trust Fury’s words, and therefore, at the same time, he is busy looking for alternative options for December – this is the month the ex-champion plans to return to the ring.
“Realize that Joshua will not accept an interim fight. He is well aware that this will not play into his hands, –
reasoning Hearn. – Therefore, the opponents will be a fighter from the top 10. Names? But you yourself know who is in the top 10, right? Understand that as soon as I name names, their “price tags” immediately increase. But I can say with confidence that there will be no intermediate battle. We are not interested in it. We need intrigue to be present in the battle, there is a risk of defeat.
Hearn nevertheless voiced some names: “There is, for example, Dillian Whyte. But it doesn’t fit in December. Unless for March or even for the summer of next year. And it will certainly be a huge stadium in Britain. There is Filip Hrgovic. He recently celebrated a victory, although, as for me, he looked sad in that fight (against Zhang Zhilei). But Zhilei looked great. Who else? Otto Wallin had a competitive fight with Fury…”
The promoter nevertheless recalled the priority option for Joshua: “Yesterday I spoke with Anthony. His position is simple and clear: “If Fury is serious about the fight, then I’m in the game.” Although I do not hide that at first we had other plans: a fight in December, a fight in March, and then White, or Fury, or Deontay Wilder, or someone else.
Hearn also spoke in detail about Fury’s proposal: the date, the rematch clause, and the distribution of the fee. The champion demands an immediate response, as he has little time: “Next year I will be busy with Usyk.”
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