Fury was on morning TV in the UK today and reiterated he has retired. I actually believe him. He many come back later but as of now I 100% believe he is done. So the question who will be next WBC Champ - Top 15 rankings are Deontay Wilder Joe Joyce Joseph Parker Frank Sanchez Andy Ruiz Jr Arslanbek Makhmudov Luis Ortiz Filip Hrgovic Michael Hunter Tony Yoka Otto Wallin Agit Kabayel Robert Helenius Martin Bakole Daniel Dubois
On the face of it, I would really welcome Wilder fighting the winner out of those two! If Wilder was to win that fight, it would surely quieten arguments about his relative standing within this era. It would be the big win that Wilder's fan base could point to. However, Parker v Joyce is in July, so realistically, the winner of them would be fighting October/November at the earliest. So, I don't think Wilder should just walk into a title fight. Rather, I would hope that he fights another ranked opponent before that. As coming off two KO losses, with his last win coming right on the cusp of three years, and then walking back into a title fight... Yeah, that would be going beyond Stiverne levels of ridiculousness when he was made mandatory. Personally, I suspect the winner of Ortiz v Ruiz Jr. will also be on the board if there is a fight for a vacant strap.
I think Wilder will have a warm up fight. He will see whats happening regarding Fury and then AJ v Usyk But I think in a few weeks WBC will offically declare the WBC belt vacant and make Wilder number 1. With that in mind his people will be looking at a warm up fight to likley face the Parker v Joyce winner. Or maybe he might just got for the big money fight and take on the AJ v Usyk winner.
https://www.boxingforum24.com/threa...ho-will-fight-for-the-vacant-wbc-belt.685350/ By the way, I am hoping that, given the circumstances, they let Usyk fight for it. They can throw him in there against Wilder...anybody they want. Nobody outside of Fury has a chance.
Shouldnt Joyce vs. Parker be for the vacant belt? Not only are they #2 and 3 in their rankings, but that you will never get a better matchup factoring both boxers. Wilder is very much MIA and Ruiz has a fight scheduled. So unless you want to wait until December at the earliest for that (Wilder will need 1-2 tomato cans), I see no reason for them not to sanction Joyce/Parker for the full title.
#2 Parker and #3 Joyce is in July. They are also #1 and #2 in the WBO, so this could be a WBO mandatory fight or for a vacant WBO title if Usyk doesn't end up fighting Joshua. #5 Andy Ruiz and #7 Luis Ortiz is also in July, I believe. #8 Hgovic is fighting an IBF eliminator in May. That leaves #1 Wilder, the undefeated #4 Frank Sanchez, the undefeated "twitching" Makhmudov at #6 and the undefeated Yoka at #10. (Hunter is doing god knows what with Triller.) Throw in Wilder-Yoka and Sanchez-Makhmudov, along with Parker-Joyce and Ruiz-Ortiz, and you have an old-fasioned eight man tournament. Semifinal in the late fall. Final to crown a new champ in the spring. But I don't think Fury will vacate.
Is it normal for the WBC champ to be #1 contender after getting knocked out? What about getting knocked out twice in a row?
I want winner of Hrgovic vs Makhmudov to be the WBC belt holder. P.S. please make Usyk vs Sanchez after he beats AJ again.
A bit shocked if that is the ratings. I had read Wilder was still rated #1, but as Wilder suffered 2 inside the distance defeats to Fury in his last 2 fights and is still #1, yet Whyte is no longer in the top 15 of that rating and holds a win over 2 of the rated fighters in the list
might be because he was champ for a long time. Always expect this type of decision on ratings from WBC ,& IBF & WBO & WBA. Seen worse