World Heavyweight Title Shambles!!!

[Enlightened-One]

The WBO has today demanded that Anthony Joshua face Oleksandr Usyk next, despite the fact the Brit is already committed to performing a mandatory IBF title defence against Kubrat Pulev next.

If a deal between Joshua, Usyk and the WBO can’t be reached, then AJ will lose one of his titles.

Meanwhile, Tyson Fury is contractually-tied to fulfilling an immediate rematch clause against Deontay Wilder, despite having to perform a mandatory defence against Dillian Whyte by February 2021.

And the WBC’s timescales will be very tough to adhere to, because Deontay is currently injured and Bob Arum says that a third Wilder bout is too costly to stage behind closed doors.

On a separate note, the WBC today ruled-out the possibility for Tyson Fury being granted franchise status.

I really can’t see Joshua and Fury paying Wilder, Whyte, Pulev & Usyk step-aside fees to secure a four-belt title unification super-fight.

It seems inevitable that any Joshua-Fury super-fight would include an immediate rematch clause, which would delay all their mandatory title defences by at least a year.

And by the time February 2021 arrives, 4½ years would have passed since Dillian Whyte won his first WBC eliminator, 3½ years after he became the WBC’s highest-ranked contender and 20 months after achieving mandatory challenger status.

Does anyone really believe 'The Body Snatcher' will agree to wait another year for his WBC title shot? This doesn't seem very likely to me.

Also, do we think we’re going to see an unfortunate situation, whereby Tyson Fury is stripped of his WBC belt and Anthony Joshua vacates the WBO strap?

And all we'd be left with is the WBC elevating Dillian Whyte to full champion status, Tyson Fury engaging in a non-title fight against Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua defending his IBF strap against Kubrat Pulev, coupled with Oleksandr Usyk and Joseph Parker challenging for the vacant WBO title?

The alternate scenario is that: Tyson faces Wilder and Whyte next; AJ faces Pulev then Usyk; with there being a two-bout super-fight title unification series between Fury and Joshua sometime during 2022?

Thoughts?

[joshj909]

With the current mandatory and contractual demands, ideally, AJ faces Pulev then Usyk. Fury faces Wilder then Whyte. With all four of those matchups being completed before next summer. Then the winners face off in two fights. All before the end of next year.

But we all know things won't go as simply as that. Usyk or Whyte could pull up an upset causing a rematch. Hopefully only postponing a undisputed unification.

Either way, worst comes to worst, if we don't get a Fury Vs AJ unification or an undisputed unification before the end of next year, atleast the proposed matchups involving AJ, Usyk, Fury, Whyte, Wilder (and Pulev) would be an excellent 12 months of heavyweight boxing. But who knows, maybe I'm just getting desperate because of the lack of boxing over the past few months.

[tiny_acres]

I would not be shocked in the slightest if the WBO strips Joshua and the WBC strips Fury.
I just hate the thought of so many "champions" again.

[Enlightened-One]

With the current mandatory and contractual demands, ideally, AJ faces Pulev then Usyk. Fury faces Wilder then Whyte. With all four of those matchups being completed before next summer. Then the winners face off in two fights. All before the end of next year.

But we all know things won't go as simply as that. Usyk or Whyte could pull up an upset causing a rematch. Hopefully only postponing a undisputed unification.

Either way, worst comes to worst, if we don't get a Fury Vs AJ unification or an undisputed unification before the end of next year, atleast the proposed matchups involving AJ, Usyk, Fury, Whyte, Wilder (and Pulev) would be an excellent 12 months of heavyweight boxing. But who knows, maybe I'm just getting desperate because of the lack of boxing over the past few months.

I forgot to say that AJ hasn’t performed a mandatory defence of his WBA title for 21 months, since the Povetkin bout.

So assuming Joshua somehow manages to avoid defeat against Pulev & Usyk, then he’ll have to fit a defence of that title in shortly afterwards.

AJ only competes twice per year, with his next bout likely to take place sometime during November/December, so we’re realistically looking at late 2021 for the date of him performing a mandatory defence of his WBA title.

I think it's safe to assume that we're not seeing a fight between Fury & Joshua anytime soon... at least not until the Summer of 2022 (despite what the current media rumours are saying).

[joshj909]

With the current mandatory and contractual demands, ideally, AJ faces Pulev then Usyk. Fury faces Wilder then Whyte. With all four of those matchups being completed before next summer. Then the winners face off in two fights. All before the end of next year.

But we all know things won't go as simply as that. Usyk or Whyte could pull up an upset causing a rematch. Hopefully only postponing a undisputed unification.

Either way, worst comes to worst, if we don't get a Fury Vs AJ unification or an undisputed unification before the end of next year, atleast the proposed matchups involving AJ, Usyk, Fury, Whyte, Wilder (and Pulev) would be an excellent 12 months of heavyweight boxing. But who knows, maybe I'm just getting desperate because of the lack of boxing over the past few months.

I forgot to say that AJ hasn’t performed a mandatory defence of his WBA title for 21 months, since the Povetkin bout.

So assuming Joshua somehow manages to avoid defeat against Pulev & Usyk, then he’ll have to fit a defence of that title in shortly afterwards.

AJ only competes twice per year, with his next bout likely to take place sometime during November/December, so we’re realistically looking at late 2021 for the date of him performing a mandatory defence of his WBA title.

I think it's safe to assume that we're not seeing a fight between Fury & Joshua anytime soon... at least not until the Summer of 2022 (despite what the current media rumours are saying).

Hopefully the WBA will take into account the global pandemic and shut down of sports when demanding their mandatory. Who would it even be of the top 5, Charr and Bryan are supposed to be unifying the Regular belt, Wilder and Usyk are getting their shots at belts this year, Ruiz and Ortiz just lost. It basically only leaves Joyce/Dubois as the WBA "Gold" champ. Don't think any fans would lose sleep over waiting for that one.

I do also think that a unified champ with 3-4 belts needs to make 3 defences a year, atleast 4 in 18 months. Whoever eventually becomes undisputed, will get stripped shortly after.

[Enlightened-One]

I do also think that a unified champ with 3-4 belts needs to make 3 defences a year, atleast 4 in 18 months. Whoever eventually becomes undisputed, will get stripped shortly after.

I agree.

But I do think huge stadium-filling PPV sporting events take a long time to organise.

I mean the logistics of it all, because the powers that be (i.e. networks, promoters, venues etc.) will want to stage them on certain calendar dates to avoid clashes, cannibalisation etc. in order to maximise revenue generation and audience figures. These events also usually require lengthy marketing campaigns.

So it's probably more of a commercial problem rather than AJ simply wanting to enjoy a lengthy layoff between bouts.

I feel the sports’ governing bodies need to be more flexible in their rules to cater for the commercial reality of orchestrating title unification super-fights involving marquee names, but instead I suspect the WBA, WBC, IBF & WBO would prefer to prioritise their rules to ensure a quick turnaround of their sanctioning fees.

[jujigatame]

I'm actually ok with AJ vs. Usyk if Fury and Wilder are going to fight each other again, but really AJ and Fury should fight each other and tell any sanctioning body who doesn't like it to go kick rocks.

[Paci]

Im going by the Ring and Transnational Boxing not by what the orgs are putting out with their bs politics.

Trinkets do add a better payday for the fighters thou. That is all that is good about them.

The WBO will bend over, WBA will be the WBA and the IBF are doing what they are saying, not forgetting the WBC who is doing a WBA with multipel champs right now. The only good thing is that with having 2 champs, the lineal and the unfied. Not counting the beltwarmers who has fought in ages or Whyte who should get a shot after Wilder, but got fcuk'd over by politics and money again. Still rather see Fury/Wilder vs AJ rather then Whyte thou. Still think he has earned a shot with his resumé among other things.

[Thomastearns]

And now Hearn keen not to miss a trick comes out with the announcement of Joshua v Fury being agreed next summer.

Couldn't all this fanfare have waited til after Wilder v Fury 3 and after it's actually been signed?

Do they really need to marinate this possible fight (and our wallets) a WHOLE YEAR beforehand with two fights between?

Modern boxing politics, don't you just love it?


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.skyspo ... ddie-hearn

[Tony1244]

There have been a hell of a lot of worse mandatory opponents over the years than Usyk. I'm not concerned with who has what title as long as the best are fighting the best.

[gilgamesh]

And this is why we all need to stop acknowledging these title organizations.

Championships are won and lost in the ring, but how many times in the last 20 years have we seen somebody stripped of a title with the stroke of a pen?

These Championships aren't worth the paper they're written on.

[Tony1244]

And this is why we all need to stop acknowledging these title organizations.

Championships are won and lost in the ring, but how many times in the last 20 years have we seen somebody stripped of a title with the stroke of a pen?

These Championships aren't worth the paper they're written on.

Titles are worthless to me, they don't pay me anything. They don't effect how I rank the fighters. Whyte, Usyk, Fury, or Wilder are all worthy opponents for AJ

[saad1000]

I couldn't possibly care less about any of the belts. Just make fights against the top guys. Fury-AJ, Wilder-AJ, whatever. Superiority is won in the ring, not by a bunch of thieves with their hands out.

[Tony1244]

I couldn't possibly care less about any of the belts. Just make fights against the top guys. Fury-AJ, Wilder-AJ, whatever. Superiority is won in the ring, not by a bunch of thieves with their hands out.

[DrDuke]

I couldn't possibly care less about any of the belts. Just make fights against the top guys. Fury-AJ, Wilder-AJ, whatever. Superiority is won in the ring, not by a bunch of thieves with their hands out.

However, still it will be more pleasing, if there is an undisputed champion, who makes impossible for lesser competitors to achieve more attention and to build fake legacy with belt-holding.

[snake33]

How is Oleksandr Usyk deserving of a mandatory title shot ?
Was it that top notch win over Witherspoon ? Maybe he should
fight an actual eliminator first.
And if WBO strips Joshua the top guys should just ignore that belt.
Too many belts anyway.
And Whyte did beat Price and hasn't failed a drug test recently.
But should Fury be stripped because Wilder ducked him for years ?
And if Wilder can't fight by the end of the year. NEXT !!!!!!!
Fury could fight Whyte and still get in one or two Joshua fights in 2021.
The Wilder rematch is a non-starter anyway.

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

Wbo bylaws state hes entitled to a shot moving up to hw as he was a wbo holder at cruiser

[Lennox]

They will just fight for the IBO and IBF title.
As other credible fighters emerge from the other belt-holders, they can re-unite.

[Enlightened-One]

Tyson Fury today hinted that he was considering vacating his title.

He said: "I'm about fighting the biggest fights out there and Wilder-Joshua are the biggest fights out there.

"Dillian Whyte is looking for a pay-day against me and Pulev is looking for a pay-day... all these challengers are not sellable, especially in America, so I'm looking to do colossal fights, the last few fights I have left, I want them to be the biggest possible fights.

"It won't be a belt or an organisation dictating to anybody because no-one has ever dictated to the champion.

"These low profile fighters don't mean anything to me, I'm after the biggest fights available.

"I'm a proud WBC champion but at the end of the day I'm the lineal heavyweight champion of the world which trumps everything.”

[H8Usernames]

I still believe that Fres Oquendo or Manuel Charr or one of the other WBA lawsuit boys can take the title, atleast if they hire a good enough lawyer.

That is acctually a really good example of ABC excess titles not really being that harmful to the sport, a Briggs vs Oquendo purse bid didnt even raise 100k. Besides before all the interim and super titles showed up orgs like the ibc iba wbu etc were gaining credibility, perhaps this has just cut them out.

[SteveO]

Tyson Fury today hinted that he was considering vacating his title.

He said: "I'm about fighting the biggest fights out there and Wilder-Joshua are the biggest fights out there.

"Dillian Whyte is looking for a pay-day against me and Pulev is looking for a pay-day... all these challengers are not sellable, especially in America, so I'm looking to do colossal fights, the last few fights I have left, I want them to be the biggest possible fights.

"It won't be a belt or an organisation dictating to anybody because no-one has ever dictated to the champion.

"These low profile fighters don't mean anything to me, I'm after the biggest fights available.

"I'm a proud WBC champion but at the end of the day I'm the lineal heavyweight champion of the world which trumps everything.”

[gilgamesh]

I couldn't possibly care less about any of the belts. Just make fights against the top guys. Fury-AJ, Wilder-AJ, whatever. Superiority is won in the ring, not by a bunch of thieves with their hands out.

However, still it will be more pleasing, if there is an undisputed champion, who makes impossible for lesser competitors to achieve more attention and to build fake legacy with belt-holding.

You don't need all the belts to be an undisputed Champion.

You need to beat the other top guys.

Guys have become Undisputed Champion only for some little prick in a boardroom to strip 'em for not fighting some schmuck nobody cares to see 'em fight anyway.

If you had the belt, never lost it in a fight, and for whatever don't have it coming into a major fight. You're the Champion.

Here's a fine example for ya.

Glen Johnson was the IBF Light Heavyweight Champion in 2004. Antonio Tarver was the WBC Light Heavyweight Champion.

They were stripped of their titles for not fighting their mandatories, but fighting each other was the biggest fight possible in the division at the time they agreed to do it.

So the winner of that fight was rightfully considered THE MAN at Light Heavyweight.

F*ck title organizations and their pansy ass belts. Champions win FIGHTS against other Champions. They don't get awarded a belt by some suit.

[Tony1244]

The very corrupt alphabet organizations depend upon the ignorance of fans, who aren't really fans.

You'd think "fans" who would bother coming on boxrec would be knowledgable enough not to recommend super CW and super HW divisions. But no. Very Sad.

[gilgamesh]

The very corrupt alphabet organizations depend upon the ignorance of fans, who aren't really fans.

You'd think "fans" who would bother coming on boxrec would be knowledgable enough not to recommend super CW and super HW divisions. But no. Very Sad.

And you'd think fans that follow all of the goings on of World Titles and title organizations would en masse sh*t on a guy who was awarded a belt that was stripped of a World Champion for making a bigger fight than his mandatory.

[Tony1244]

The very corrupt alphabet organizations depend upon the ignorance of fans, who aren't really fans.

You'd think "fans" who would bother coming on boxrec would be knowledgable enough not to recommend super CW and super HW divisions. But no. Very Sad.

And you'd think fans that follow all of the goings on of World Titles and title organizations would en masse sh*t on a guy who was awarded a belt that was stripped of a World Champion for making a bigger fight than his mandatory.

How do you define "sh*t on a guy?" If someone was awarded a belt he didn't win, I would still watch him fight.