eBusiness Weekly
The WBC can’t make Anthony Joshua the mandatory challenger for Tyson Fury’s WBC heavyweight title; But the champion Fury is in a voluntary stage of his career so could box Joshua next.
Tyson Fury has named two dates for a huge fight against Anthony Joshua, with the WBC open to the “interesting” prospect of a British heavyweight battle.
A Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua fight wouldn’t be blocked by an obligation on Fury’s part to meet a mandatory challenger.
Fury was taking a mandatory defence when he defeated Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium earlier this year.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told
Sky Sports, “Fury made his mandatory defence in April. He is in a voluntary stage and the
WBC will determine all mandatories of all divisions at the convention in Acapulco on November.”
Heavyweights are already jostling for position to eventually become Fury’s mandatory. Andy Ruiz beat Luis Ortiz in an eliminator and Deontay Wilder will box Robert Helenius in another eliminator in October.
“The WBC has sanctioned those two bouts and the Board will review each division (in November),” Sulaiman said.
It means they can’t impose Joshua, who has lost his last two fights to Oleksandr Usyk, as a mandatory for the heavyweight title. But Fury could fight him as a voluntary, especially if it takes place next.
“The WBC cannot mandate such bout, that would be against the rules and against the rights of champion Fury,” Sulaiman said.
But he added, “Fury vs Joshua will always be an interesting match, especially for the UK. Fury is without a doubt the best heavyweight of today and is in his prime.”
London or Cardiff
After already offering Anthony Joshua a 60-40 purse split, Tyson Fury has two dates this year in mind for that potential fight.
Fury wants to take it to Wembley Stadium on November 26 or the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on December 3.
“Why not give him 40 percent? Give him no excuses and let’s get the fight made for the British public,” Fury told Talksport. — SkySports.
