Drop the WBO belt

[snake33]

If the WBO blocks the unification fight to force a Usyk fight, Joshua should drop the belt.
And the winner of Unification should just act like the WBO doesn't exist.
They are a second level belt anyway. Just another International, Sliver Interim, etc.
Also, Whyte had to wait a Loooooong time. Usyk has not done nearly enough to deserve putting the world on pause.
Usyk will be the next Grant anyway. Let him wait in line a while.

[margaret thatcher]

i've gathered from your posts that you're really high on usyk

aj-fury is the one that needs to happen b4 all others

[MasterG]

Unfortunately this is what happens when you change various commissions and you have their titles. You have an obligation to fullfil their terms and conditions. Either fullfil your obligation or vacate. There is nothing to say AJ can't fight 3 times in 12 months.

[DrDuke]

If WBO makes Usyk a mandatory and Joshua choses Usyk instead of Fury, Joshua will officially be a big dosser. There are obvious advantages in the Fury bout over keeping all belts. Such opportunity can't be wasted.

[SteveO]

I don't see why he can't fight Usyk and Fury next year

[Stanny Onis]

I don't see why he can't fight Usyk and Fury next year

I doubt they risk losing to Usyk. When theres a legacy fight for crazy amounts of money there in the Fury fight

No matter how confident they appear Joshua and Hearn will know deep down Usyk is a dangerous fight they could lose

[aicheligad]

Usyk vs Fury is the fight I personally want to see the most.

[margaret thatcher]

usyk - fury seems like it would be a super awkward matchup

[aicheligad]

usyk - fury seems like it would be a super awkward matchup

That's why I want to see it Two the most charismatic personalities in boxing right now

[bobcatbox]

I don't see why he can't fight Usyk and Fury next year

I doubt they risk losing to Usyk. When theres a legacy fight for crazy amounts of money there in the Fury fight

No matter how confident they appear Joshua and Hearn will know deep down Usyk is a dangerous fight they could lose

I truly cannot understand why anyone needs more a reason than “crazy amounts of money” to put together a fight these days.

As I recall Floyd Mayweather once saying, “It’s called prizefighting.”

Joshua - Fury isn’t a fight to make.
It’s THE fight to make.

[gregregegg]

Here is the dream. AJ vs fury fight on a card, but not the final fight on the card... winner gets stripped instantly during post fight interview, and then Usyk vs joyce fight for the vacant belt, on the same card... Its too wild for boxing, but it keeps everyone happy.

[snake33]

i've gathered from your posts that you're really high on usyk

aj-fury is the one that needs to happen b4 all others

Usyk is an excellent boxer in his weight class. I think he is wildly over rated as a heavyweight.
He should drop down to this ludicrous Bridgerweight and rule the division.
I just think stalling a heavyweight unification fight for an unproven contender is ridiculous.
Give Usyk a shot at the winner. It'll be a good win for one of them.

[Finkel]

Unfortunately this is what happens when you change various commissions and you have their titles. You have an obligation to fullfil their terms and conditions. Either fullfil your obligation or vacate. There is nothing to say AJ can't fight 3 times in 12 months.

Exactly this.

I actually suspect I've been a little harsh on Joshua in the past, as it's more likely been Hearn dictating the schedule. Joshua practically burst out laughing when Hearn suggested his next fight would be on 5-6 months in the postfight interviews on Saturday.

But at the end of the day going on their American adventure meant the titles were not on the line for nearly 9 months. Then another 6 months for the rematch. Yeah covid-19 happened, but that doesn't magically excuse him being (one of) the least active unified champions in modern history. Remember he is barely into his 30s, he should be far more active than he has been.

Everyone has known Usyk was waiting in the wings since he announced he was stepping up to Heavy. It's in the WBO's rules that as the cruiserweight champion he became the mandatory.

Joshua needs to fight his WBO mandatory or relinquish the belt. The WBC have been a circus when it comes to mandatories, so I also think Fury should give the winner of Povetkin-Whyte II their shot before he faces Joshua.

Because let's face it, Joshua-Fury will have a rematch clause...

[Onetimeonly]

If WBO makes Usyk a mandatory and Joshua choses Usyk instead of Fury, Joshua will officially be a big dosser. There are obvious advantages in the Fury bout over keeping all belts. Such opportunity can't be wasted.

Fury has litigation to deal with that could take a bit. I don't want Josh sitting around but if the wilder shit gets sorted the fight is absolutely bigger than a wbo belt.

[margaret thatcher]

lol fury-wilder 3

maybe the 4th late in 2021 too!

fury-wilder 50 in 2040: this time, deontay really will get him!

[Onetimeonly]

I won't even stream it.

[MasterG]

A world class athlete like Joshua is no difference to Mo Farrah. He can run 6 or 7 marathons a year without a issue. Of course in boxing you have to take into account the damage that punches suffer. AJ cam though his last fight unscathed so he could defend in less than 4 months. Boxers seem to be able to fight month in month out leading up to a title shot but then seem to be only able to fight 2 times a year at best. Mike Tyson fought about 13 times in 1986 in 1987 he defended 4 times, there is no excuse. someone like AJ who is fit as a lop can defend those titles regardless of the opponent in February, Providing no injury he could be out towards the end of May, fit another defence in towards end of August and have another in December.

If he cant fullfil this strip the bugger.

[Onetimeonly]

It's the money, top boxers are insanely overpaid. The UFC just had a ppv main event, granted in their least financially lucrative division for the company and fighters, with a champion and contender that both fought 3 weeks ago on another ppv!

[Pukka Cheese]

Drop all the belts. AJ V Fury doesnt need them and could take up to 3 years to play out!

WBO can order Usyk Vs Joe Joyce
WBC can have Wilder vs the winner of Whyte - Povetkin
IBF would be Charles Martin V Hunter..?
WBA already have Manuel Charr....

Throw in some unifications or perhaps a Kalle Sauerland Super Series and...

[snake33]

lol fury-wilder 3

maybe the 4th late in 2021 too!

fury-wilder 50 in 2040: this time, deontay really will get him!

I hate all these freakin' rematches. Unless there's a Fan Man, it isn't warranted.

[snake33]

Drop all the belts. AJ V Fury doesnt need them and could take up to 3 years to play out!

WBO can order Usyk Vs Joe Joyce
WBC can have Wilder vs the winner of Whyte - Povetkin
IBF would be Charles Martin V Hunter..?
WBA already have Manuel Charr....

Throw in some unifications or perhaps a Kalle Sauerland Super Series and...

That would be Hell.

[Perkin Warbeck]

Yes, Joshua should drop the WBO belt and fight Fury.

He can always unify with Usyk later.

[gilgamesh]

Here's the question you ask yourself if you're Anthony Joshua.

Would less people watch me fight Tyson Fury if I weren't WBO Champion or would less people watch me fight Fury if I lost to Usyk first.

When you think about it like that. The answer is obvious.

Whether or not he would lose to Usyk or not is irrelevant. He COULD, and it's not worth the risk when you're talking about risking the biggest fight in possible in Boxing right now, and the biggest Heavyweight fight in decades.

[margaret thatcher]

they should make the deal with usyk to let them fight for the undiisputed, have the winner drop it, then usyk fights for vacant belt right after

[Finkel]

they should make the deal with usyk to let them fight for the undiisputed, have the winner drop it, then usyk fights for vacant belt right after

What benefit would that be to Usyk?