A year ago, Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua was the super fight that British fans, and possibly the entire boxing world, craved.
An all-British bout for all four major heavyweight titles between two world champions with opposing personalities who have gone mainstream was a heartbreaking distance.
The stage was set, and more precise details agreed upon, with Saudi Arabia hosting the fight in August 2021.
But Fury was instead ordered by an arbitration hearing to face Deontay Wilder in a trilogy fight. As their careers each went their own way, it seemed like Fury-Joshua – or Joshua-Fury, depending on your loyalty – had dwindled. Joshua has lost three of his last five fights and is without a world title, while the unpredictable Fury – who appeared on World Wrestling Entertainment’s Scripted World last week – said he had retired in more than one year. opportunity.
But in a somewhat unexpected twist, the WBC Fury champion challenged Joshua via social media on September 5.
On Tuesday, Joshua agreed to terms to fight Fury on Dec. 3, according to his management company.
If it were to finally go as proposed, is the reunion still a modern-day super fight? Or has the interest waned and are there actually bigger fights instead? There’s no denying that an undisputed fight to determine the best heavyweight in the world was a big selling point for last year’s potential reunion. There hasn’t been an undisputed heavyweight champion since the four-belt era began in 2004.
Lennox Lewis was the last undisputed heavyweight champion 22 years ago.
But will the casual sport or even the casual boxing fan be so interested? Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, representing Joshua, said the enormity of the fight will depend on the two boxers, not necessarily the belts on offer. It has been suggested that the Principality Stadium in Cardiff could host the meeting in less than three months.
The build-up to Joshua’s rematch against Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia last month was remarkably quiet compared to the British heavyweight title fights, and the atmosphere was markedly different with few fans traveling to the Middle East. East.
That the fight is taking place on British soil and not in the United States or the Middle East is great.
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However, some die-hard fans are more likely to see Fury up against WBA, IBF, and WBO champion Usyk. It would be a meeting between two undefeated master pugilists with eccentric characters. Other unknowns would add additional intrigue to this fight; Is Fury just too big and does Usyk need to prove himself as a heavyweight after only fighting three heavyweight opponents since dropping from cruiserweight?
Usyk’s remarkable run over the past year has boosted his profile after defending his country against the Russian invasion and defending his world titles against Joshua.
Fury-Joshua remains a huge draw both commercially and for fight fans everywhere, but Fury-Usyk could captivate a global audience even more.
However, with Usyk suggesting he won’t return to the ring until 2023, perhaps Fury-Joshua makes perfect sense in the meantime.
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In June 2019, Joshua experienced a low point in his career when he was first defeated as a pro when Mexican Andy Ruiz Jr landed a shocking victory in New York.
The golden boy of British boxing, who triumphed at the 2012 London Olympics, was eliminated in the seventh round at the iconic Madison Square Garden. However, just six months later, he regained his unified world titles with a unanimous points win in the repechage.
After a routine win over Kubrat Pulev in December 2020, Joshua hinted that a bout with Fury could be the biggest in British boxing history.
But in September 2021 he lost his titles again, this time to mandatory challenger Usyk in London. Despite the one-sided nature of the fight, such is ‘AJ’s’ character and his willingness to correct mistakes saw him jump right back into the rematch, which he again lost on points in August.
Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua: Fight British fans and the Entire Boxing World Crave For
Does Joshua’s recent record suggest he’s only got the chance of a punch against someone with Fury’s boxing IQ?
While there’s no shame in losing back-to-back fights to pound-for-pound star Usyk — and improving massively in the rematch — it’s been a while since fans have enjoyed the explosive combinations and the clinical finishing instinct that Joshua witnessed.
Since he only started the sport at the age of 19, there have always been question marks over Joshua’s technical abilities, but he has shattered those doubters with impressive point wins over Joseph Parker and Ruiz Jr.
Joshua has improved as a boxer and has been keen to show that his game is more than just punching.
One would assume he adjusted his style to fight Fury one day. And now may be the right time to face his rival, armed with the experience and awareness of his defeats.
Joshua’s physical condition is the subject of much debate, as is his mentality. Former middleweight champion Carl Froch wondered if Joshua was “a broken man” since his defeat to Ruiz Jr.
After being defeated by Usyk in Jeddah, Joshua’s bizarre outburst in the post-fight interview also sparked criticism.
His promoter Hearn highlighted the pressures the Londoner has faced and the public spotlight he has had to bring since he turned pro in 2013.
From apparel brands to energy drinks, from headphones to automakers, Joshua has a wide range of sponsorship commitments. Some, like Froch, think his heart may not be beating for the sport anymore.
If so, perhaps the sheer scale of the fight against Fury – which is sure to capture the imagination of the UK public at least – could ignite a spark in Joshua.
Fury is an elite boxer. Fighters of his size, with the ability to slide into the ring like him, are rare. However, there are some who feel that Fury’s track record falls short of Joshua’s.
“The Gypsy King” surpassed the odds of dethroning Wladimir Klitschko in Düsseldorf in 2015. After a long spell out of the ring, he returned to the sport and equalized at Wilder’s level before stopping the American twice. But aside from these two big names, otherwise, he has generally beaten losing opponents or fringe world title fighters like Britain’s Derek Chisora and Dillian Whyte.
Fury can feel a win over Joshua, despite his rival’s recent defeats, not only would he boast but solidify his status as great rival Lennox Lewis as the best British heavyweight in history.
He might even think that now is the time to make money on a big payday, against a vulnerable and deflated Joshua. Commercially, Fury-Joshua will probably still do big numbers.
Outside the ring, Fury is a big draw. His WWE appearances, duets with pop stars, reality shows, and well-documented battles with drugs and mental health have built a loyal fan base around the world.
But since beating Whyte at Wembley Stadium in April, Fury has announced his retirement, called a trilogy against Chisora, traveled to Iceland to challenge strongman Thor Bjornsson, suggested he and Joshua fight in Free TV, and asked for £ 500 million for his next fight.
While much of what he says is ironic, the contradictions and lack of clarity about his next move have frustrated some boxing fans.
Some aren’t even convinced the Joshua vs Fury fight will take place this year. If it really does take place, it will be fascinating to see how much it attracts the attention of the world.
T
