Eight-man Undisputed Heavyweight Tournament opens up, From WBN

[Ruthless-RKO]

https://www.worldboxingnews.net/2020/07 ... ournament/



Firstly, one of the major players in the 200 pounds plus weight class could conceivably be in possession of all the major titles in the next eighteen months.

Due to mandatory obligations and already contracted agreements, there are seven title holders or contenders already in the picture.

This means only one more participant needs to be confirmed before we have an inadvertent World Boxing Super Series-type event on our hands.

First of all, kicking off the competition will be Dillian Whyte vs Alexander Povetkin in what becomes the first quarter-final.



Due to Joshua’s IBF and WBO stipulations, the Briton must face Pulev before Usyk. This means Usyk vs Chisora becomes one of two final eliminators.

Fury vs Wilder III is already contracted for 2020 or early 2021. As confirmed by the World Boxing Council, Whyte must challenge the winner.

This also sees the Povetkin clash in Eddie Hearn’s back garden become a second elimination.

[DrDuke]

Hopefully all this stuff happens. These are the best possible heavyweight matchups today, if not directly Fury-Joshua.

[oogiebe]

It should only be true.

[dr_devious]

Or cut to the chase and let Fury and Joshua fight each other next and the others can fight it out to be their first mandatory

[Cyclops]

Or cut to the chase and let Fury and Joshua fight each other next and the others can fight it out to be their first mandatory

I think everybody would rather that, wouldn't they? As much as I like all those fights they're all proper banana skins to the Big One. Corona has ballsed up everything, hasn't it?

[dr_devious]

Not sure its down to corona, Fury and Joshua have had a few years to fight each other and it hasn't happened and they've both got other fights lined up plus mandatories. It might never even happen at all but if it does I'd favour Fury heavily. Usyk is the biggest banana skin in that lot, and Wilder always has a punchers chance against anyone.

[mickey1975]

Not sure its down to corona, Fury and Joshua have had a few years to fight each other and it hasn't happened and they've both got other fights lined up plus mandatories. It might never even happen at all but if it does I'd favour Fury heavily. Usyk is the biggest banana skin in that lot, and Wilder always has a punchers chance against anyone.

Wilder doesn’t. Don’t let him set his feet.

[Cyclops]

Not sure its down to corona, Fury and Joshua have had a few years to fight each other and it hasn't happened and they've both got other fights lined up plus mandatories. It might never even happen at all but if it does I'd favour Fury heavily. Usyk is the biggest banana skin in that lot, and Wilder always has a punchers chance against anyone.

It obviously is, isn't it?

[dr_devious]

Why is it, you think Fury and Joshua aren't fighting each other any time soon because of corona?

[Cyclops]

Why is it, you think Fury and Joshua aren't fighting each other any time soon because of corona?

I'll believe any of these fights happen when they step foot in the ring.

They'll all be delayed because of coronavirus. At least two of them would have happened already if it wasn't for COVID-19

[keirw]

Why is it, you think Fury and Joshua aren't fighting each other any time soon because of corona?

If it wasn't for Covid Joshua would have already rough Pulev and Fury should have already fought Wilder again.

Provided they had both won there is a possibility that the undisputed fight could have been made for later this year.

Whether or not this would have actually happened is questionable, but Covid has made it impossible for the foreseeable future.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Set to be all Pay-Per-View

Promoter Eddie Hearn has been criticized for his lack of engagement by Pulev’s team.

Pulev co-promoter Ivaylo Gotzev said: “Let’s get after Eddie Hearn and the champ (AJ) because enough is enough. He hasn’t got his stuff together. We are still waiting for a new date.

“I understand that the whole world has to reset somewhat, but people in the fight game are back in business.

“We are hoping Eddie might take note and start making some moves – but we are still waiting for those moves.”


HEAVYWEIGHT PAY-PER-VIEW

It’s believed every single bout on offer will be a Pay-Per-View affair on at least one side of the Atlantic.

Joshua vs Pulev, Whyte vs Povetkin, and Chisora vs Usyk are already penciled in for Sky Sports Box Office on UK soil. Fury vs Wilder III for BT Sport’s opposite number.

Luckily enough for US fans, only one of those quarter-final bouts, the Fury vs Wilder collision, will go down on their paid platforms.

The likely semi-finals, which should consist of Joshua vs Usyk and Fury or Wilder vs Whyte, if the odds are to be believed, will also be PPV. One hundred percent in the UK.

All British fans are hoping for a Joshua vs Fury heavyweight finale. This is expected to be the highest-grossing PPV of all time – with projections of two million sales for the first time in British history.

It all kicks off with Whyte vs Povetkin on August 22.