This content is protected Certainly they are only 5th and 8th but the fight deserves a title. As a reminder in 2014 the vacant WBC title was disputed between Stiverne and Arreola when it could have been played in Povetkin and Takam. Wilder could face the winner (so probably Ruiz) if he beats Helenius.
Sad days, no Fury vs Joshua fight then But it means we may like at some point get usyk/Joshua vs Wilder, which would be interesting.
The Dosser is still ranked #1 by the Wilder Bodyguard Council even though he's suffered back-to-back baptisms in his own church in front of his own congregation, losing both fights via brutal stoppage and KO. And with the exception of one round where a 60% Fury who had a terrible camp got complacent because of, as in Baptism I with a 40% Fury, how easy it was for him, both baptisms were one-sided massacres. But don't forget how, somehow, a Stiverne who'd only fought once in almost three years, against a 30-10 journeyman who dropped him, became The Dosser's WBC mandatory challenger
It should be but Sulaiman already discounted them as they were going the WBO route. He was saying Wilder would be involved in any fight for the vacant title. And I would assume as others have that it will be against the winner of Ortiz - Ruiz Jr Pretty much
Maybe Fury didn't have any options once he couldn't fight in the US? It's clear that Sulaiman wants a US fighter to hold their HW belt.
He is just running scared from Usyk. Could have fought everywhere else. Lets not make it more than it is.
If Wilder wins their probably gonna mandate Wilder vs Joyce/Parker for the vacant belt with the winner of Ruiz/Ortiz being the mandatory.
Interesting point. Maybe Fury wants Wilder to get the WBC belt back, which is likely if his next two fights are Helenius and the Ruiz-Ortiz winner for the vacant title. Wilder's handlers will push the diminishing asset Wilder towards an undisputed fight with the Usyk-AJ 2 winner. If Wilder wins his next three and becomes undisputed, I can see Fury staying retired as his retirement would have effectively ended the era. But if the Usyk-AJ 2 winner beat Wilder I see Fury coming back for mega money, ego and legacy. Furthermore, if the winner of Usyk-AJ 2 beats Wilder and possibly makes a defence in between fighting Fury, that builds the megafight down the line, while Fury takes zero risk or wear. The longer Fury stays out the more people will clamour for his return, so it makes sense to sit things out for a bit and let the dust settle. Imagine Fury had beaten Wilder in late 2016 and then Joshua in mid 2017: Wilder would have had 4 defences and AJ would not have even been a titlist. Instead Fury dethroned Wilder when he had 10 defences, which made Wilder a far more significant win than he otherwise would have been, in a bigger money fight.
Then do the right thing, and put the belt on the AJ-Usyk 2 fight. Let it be undisputed. Fury retired, then the belt is Vacant.