The two-time heavyweight champion hasn’t been seen in the squared-cirlce since he suffered a gruelling defeat to fellow-Brit Daniel Dubois in September
The two-time heavyweight champion hasn’t been seen in the squared-cirlce since he suffered a gruelling defeat to fellow-Brit Daniel Dubois in September The two-time heavyweight champion hasn’t been seen in the squared-cirlce since he suffered a gruelling defeat to fellow-Brit Daniel Dubois in September
Two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua‘s next fight could likely be determined by the outcome of tonight’s blockbuster heavyweight rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
The ‘Gypsy King’ will be desperate to get his revenge later this evening against the Ukrainian in what promises to be a mouthwatering sequel in Riyadh. Usyk won the first meeting back in May via a razor-thin split decision. Following the victory, ‘The Cat’ became the first undisputed world heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis back in 1999.
Millions are expected to tune in tonight, but perhaps the most important viewer is Joshua. The Brit has been forced to start from scratch in his bid to become a three-time heavyweight champion after being brutally knocked out by Daniel Dubois back in September at Wembley Stadium.
After suffering the fourth defeat of his professional career earlier this year, many have called for the boxing legend to retire, but the Brit insists he can become a world champion once again. Tonight’s monumental showdown could have real significance for Joshua’s next fight.
If Fury levels the series, then he will go head-to-head with Usyk for a third time, according to the Brit’s promoter, Frank Warren. When asked whether a trilogy bout between Fury and Usyk ‘trumps’ potential fights with Joshua and Daniel Dubois, Warren told Boxing News: “Oh it does because it’s contracted. And whatever happens, that would be the case if Tyson wins… providing nobody retires.”
‘The Gypsy King’ himself has also distanced himself from a potential fight with Joshua, claiming he will go for the decider against Usyk if he wins tonight. “When I win on Saturday night, I think there’s got to be a trilogy next year for sure,” Fury told Al Arabiya. “Joshua’s in tatters at the moment. He has got to pick up the pieces from his last fight. But the fight with Usyk – one on Saturday and the one afterwards – would be fantastic for me.”
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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to lock horns again on December 21 with the Brit attempting to avenge his defeat by the Ukrainian in May. Victory for Fury could also set up a huge domestic showdown with bitter rival Anthony Joshua next year
Therefore, if Fury gets his hand raised, Joshua will be in need of a new dance partner. A rematch with either Dubois and Joseph Parker will arguably be next for ‘AJ’. Both Dubois and Parker are scheduled to go head-to-head in Riyadh on February 22. However, if the ‘Gypsy King’ loses tonight, the rivalry with Usyk will be put to bed once and for all and it’s likely that his next fight will come against Joshua. While the two men are arguably edging towards the back end of their respective careers, there’s no doubt that the potential heavyweight dust-up will be a big hit.
According to Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, ‘AJ’ is targeting Fury or Dubois as the opponent for his next fight. “From our side we’ve got Anthony Joshua and an Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight will be a huge global event as well,” Hearn told Al Arabiya.
“I think everything will be decided on Saturday, if it’s another amazing fight, which it could well be, and Fury wins, it could set up a trilogy fight between the two of them. For years and still to this day I keep getting asked, ‘when’s it going to happen?’. Obviously, if Fury wins the fight on Saturday that sets up a massive fight with AJ, if he loses the fight it’s still a huge fight with AJ. We’ve got the potential of a Daniel Dubois rematch as well. So I think AJ’s next fight will be Fury or Dubois. I don’t see many other big fights out there for him. I think he just wants the biggest fights available to him. So the result of Saturday will be very important for Anthony Joshua as well.”
Mirror – Sport
