By Jim Maltzman: WBC heavyweight champion Tyson ‘Gypsy King’ Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs) will likely be combating subsequent March in opposition to Dillian Whyte or Joe Joyce within the UK, says promoter Bob Arum of High Rank.
Fury will doubtless face WBC interim champion Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs). The World Boxing Council just lately dominated that the interim champion would be the subsequent opponent for Tyson if he’s unable to barter a unification combat with IBF/WBA/WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk.
The Ukrainian will likely be combating a rematch in opposition to Anthony Joshua subsequent, so he’s unable to face Fury at the moment. That leaves Whyte as Fury’s doubtless subsequent foe.
Arum needs to get the unbeaten Fury again out to maintain the momentum going following his thrilling efficiency in opposition to Deontay Wilder on October ninth.
The 2 warriors battled backwards and forwards, each hitting the deck no less than twice earlier than Fury took management and stopped Wilder within the eleventh spherical. This was a fight-of-the-year candidate and simply probably the most thrilling heavyweight contest in recent times.
“The query is, when will he combat subsequent? If I needed to guess, I would say in all probability March,” mentioned Arum to Blue Blood Sports activities TV.
Fury wants to remain energetic in order that he’s able to tackle the winner of the Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr II rematch, who’re combating in March, in keeping with promoter Eddie Hearn.
It’s an incredible concept by Arum to get Fury again within the ring as quickly as attainable as a result of he tends to pack on a whole lot of weight in between fights when he’s inactive. Fury just lately got here off a protracted yr and a half layoff to defeat Wilder.
With Fury’s expertise, he ought to be combating a minimum of twice a yr, ideally 3 times. It’s a waste of his potential for him to be inactive the way in which he was earlier than his trilogy match with Wilder.
“Dillian Whyte is NOT the obligatory, and that’s what the WBC hasn’t achieved,” mentioned Arum. “Dillian Whyte has an obligation to combat Wallin, and we’ll see.”
Fury will doubtless defend in opposition to Whyte as a result of the WBC did rule that the interim champion will likely be subsequent if there is no such thing as a unification combat with Usyk.
Arum gained’t oppose a combat between Fury and Whyte as soon as he realizes how a lot cash it can usher in. It’s a far larger combat for Fury than a match in opposition to 2016 Olympic silver medalist Joe Joyce.
The draw back of Fury combating Whyte is that he might lose as a result of Dillian has a whole lot of energy in each arms, and he’s a rugged heavyweight.
The one means Fury can maneuver round Whyte is that if he asks to be made Franchise champion or if he vacates. As many boxing followers know, Fury doesn’t duck his opponents, and he would by no means comply with be made Franchise champion to keep away from Whyte or anybody.
“However once more, in March, I’d like Tyson Fury to combat within the UK, and I’d suppose among the many opponents can be Dillian Whyte or perhaps this huge English man, Joe Joyce,” mentioned Arum.
Arum expects Joshua to lose his rematch with IBF/WBA/WBO champion Usyk as a result of he feels he doesn’t know the way to combat a southpaw, notably a extremely expert one.
Usyk just lately defeated Joshua by a 12 spherical unanimous choice on September twenty fifth in London, England. The combat was primarily one-sided, with Usyk outboxing the slower Joshua from begin to end.
“Usyk is just too quick for him, too good, and it’ll take Joshua years to learn to combat a southpaw,” mentioned Arum. “He didn’t have a clue in the way to combat a southpaw. Usyk will beat him worse the subsequent time, irrespective of who his coach is.”
