By: Sean Crose
If anything sums up contemporary boxing, it could be the recent circus surrounding a potential big December fight between the WBC and undisputed heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and the former boxer. multi-title athlete Anthony Joshua. It is nothing if not an exciting match. After all, these two have been circling each other for years. Sadly, though, it looks like the much-anticipated demise may not happen – at least not in December. By the way, both boxers want a fight. Alas, the galactic brain aspect of modern fighting games seems to be preventing a December match from becoming a reality.
Gareth Davies, one of sport’s finest journalists, probably understands this uncomfortable prospect better than anyone. Say Friday to iFL TV Popular war correspondent expressed how frustrated he is about the fact that Team Fury and Team Joshua can’t seem to come to an agreement. “I think it’s a situation where they’re wearing gloves, they’re about to meet, and then they decide to step back, but face each other,” Davies said. Well, maybe it was always too good to be true. However, the situation remains a sad commentary on modern fighting games. “There are details in Anthony Joshua’s commercial merits,” Davies said of a reported reason why the war hasn’t been signed, “where his trading partners… can’t achieve what.” they want.”
That’s all well and good, of course. Boxing is a business and a major fight means big money. However, it was clear to Davies that a potential match of this magnitude would not be killed by thousands of cuts in the negative stages. “Just do it, you know?” he asked eloquently. In fact, the whole affair got off to a rather abrupt start. Shortly after losing his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk late last summer, Joshua was offered a 60/40 split against Fury. Though wary, Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn said the promise of a 60/40 cut was justified. However, as of press time, the fight has not been agreed… and it looks like it might not. Then again, one never knows.
“It was one of the biggest teases we’ve ever had,” Davies said. Of course many people feel as if the whole thing is just a ruse. A quick look at “Boxing Twitter” reveals comments suggesting – or to put it bluntly – that Fury never intended to fight Joshua. If not, the argument seems to have gone, why push for a war as soon as December? However, both sides have certainly talked, which means the matter is always at least somewhat serious.
This makes the state of things now all the more frustrating.
