By: Sean Crose
“He is waiting for the outcome of the fight between Usyk and Joshua,” said promoter Bob Arum FightHype of his boxer, WBC and linear heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. There have been many questions regarding the towering English player since he beat longtime contender Dillian Whyte last spring in England. Fury has said he’s retired, but has since suggested he could return. As always with Fury, nothing is certain. Even the rumor that Fury is not allowed to return to the United States because of his connection to the famous crime boss Daniel Kinahan has not been verified.
“I’ve heard the same thing, that they can’t enter the US because of the Kinahan situation, but again, I’d say that might not be true,” Arum said. Arum went on to make it clear that he believes Fury would feel disgruntled if he never fought the winner of Usyk-Joshua 2, which will end later this month. The winner, after all, will be everything that stands between Fury and the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. Fury has a WBC belt and a lineal belt, but Usyk currently holds the IBF, WBA and WBO belts – belts he won and could later lose to Joshua.
“I think he (Fury) doesn’t want to give up on it,” Arum said, referring to his quest to be the undisputed heavyweight champion. “But again, it’s up to him and I didn’t force him…we will once the Usyk-Joshua fight has happened.” There have been rumors of an undisputed future heavyweight title fight in Saudi Arabia, as well as Usyk-Joshua 2 that will take place in the coming weeks. However, Saudi Arabia’s reputation as a human rights violator has surprised some to find that the kingdom is hosting major wars.
“Will I fight in Saudi Arabia?” Arum asked eloquently. “Yes, I will fight in Saudi Arabia.” However, Arum said he strongly opposes the murder of American journalist Jamal Khashoggi. “I want to fight in England,” he said. Fury was tipped to face Joshua for the undisputed heavyweight crown last year in Saudi Arabia. However, an American judge stepped in and ruled that Fury must fight Fury’s longtime nemesis Deontay Wilder. Although Fury later won the fight with Wilder, Joshua ended up losing the title to Usky in the next fight, proving that nothing is certain in the sport of boxing – especially in boxing. is when it applies to the weight class.
