Anthony Joshua has two mandatories. He can't keep his belts if he doesn't fight them. The winner of Wilder-Fury III has a mandatory after that (in Whyte). Whyte isn't taking a step-aside fee, either. Arum says anything is possible, then in the next breath says Wilder-Fury is up again next. Because they aren't paying off FOUR guys to step aside. Hearn is just doing what he does, and the "sheep" follow. He tries to get the UK boxing fans talking about Joshua fighting ANYONE other than the guy he's actually fighting next. Because, if they had to focus on Joshua-Pulev, nobody would be talking about Joshua at all. And that's what UK fans are getting next - Joshua-Pulev. On PPV.
Wilder's breakdown is continuing nicely. He's continuing to build his impressive record of excuses, now adding snakes in the camp as another priceless target to deflect responsibility onto.
I don't think you read that article. Actually, it's not even an article. I think the title is longer than the piece. I thought the Daily Mail was an actual publication. More like clickbait.
I would mos def prefer a fight w/ AJ. But if there's a clause, and it looks to make good money, we'll get III.
According to the mouse owned sports network, Fury and Joshua are in negotiations for a potential fight in Saudi Arabia, with Wilder getting step aside money. That would be an absolute tragedy. If it goes down in SA, the British fans should NEVER forgive Hearn.
As much as I'd hate the fight being staged there, Saudia Arabia could become a necessary neutral territory, one with a lot of filthy lucre attached. Hearn/Joshua can argue that the US is Fury's turf, and Fury can certainly argue that Hearn/Joshua and the British boxing establishment would do everything in their power to stack the deck against him in the UK (I can't see it mattering how much they stack their deck, Fury stomps AJ, but I get the point on principle). If Fury doesn't want it going down in the UK, AJ should play road warrior for once and head to Vegas. But he likely won't, so that leaves Saudi Arabia. Either way, Joshua's dreams will lay dead in a desert.
I agree that Fury beats AJ convincingly. SA is just an awful 3rd option though if the US and UK are eliminated. The only plus it has is the money (substantially so). It also has human rights issues galore, international fans just dont want to make the trip there for a fight. It sells out the sport as a whole. I feel like it disrespects the fans, and creates a forgettable atmosphere inside the stadium and during fight week. A fight of this magnitude needs to be in a place that increases the excitement, not take away from it. In a sports starved world right now boxing has to shine in its moment, and this is a chance to create a world star the likes of we have not seen in this heavyweight era. I understand this is prize fighting, and the goal is to make money. This is a wrapped gift to the Saudi Royals, highlighting once again boxing's ability to scrape the bottom of the ethics barrel.
What can I say, I agree. I'd hate it to be in Saudi. They don't deserve to host what should be a prestige event for Britain or at least the US. But if Fury doesn't want to box in the UK, Eddie will have the excuse to do what he wants to do, which is to sell the fight (and sell the sport out) to the House of Saud. Joshua did say he'd like it to happen in the UK, but, if his opponent won't concede to it, I assume he'll be happy to do it in Saudi (he's already gotten smoochy with the princes). I'd love to see the fight in the UK. It's an unfortunate truth that the British establishment has its knives sharpened for Fury, however. If he doesn't want to give them this fight, I can't blame him too much.