"The facts are ruthless" LOL what kind of corny reddit nonsense is this. "What their reasons were is irrelevant" but the reasons are totally relevant and justifiable if Joshua & Hearn decline an offer? I expect you to fully miss the irony of what you've written.
Ew this sh*t again? Dang, they've been doing this diva talks since 2019 (possibly longer ughhhhh). Its so boring ngl. Thats why even though im a hard-core boxing fan, ive been watching more UFC and I loved watching Islam Makhachev surpass Anderson Silva in unbeaten streak. Can Fury stop moaning and groaning and just retire already and stop with the diva talk?
The proof is in the pudding. Look at their records. AJ never ducked a hard fight (and has the losses to prove it). He also strung a good string of B/B+level title defences between losses. He got in with Usyk twice with absolutely no bother. Fury spent nearly 18 months pissing around trying to avoid Usyk because he knew how real the risk of taking a loss was, and outside of those 2 fights took 1 risk (Wilder the first time) since his comeback which was 8 years ago. Outside of rematches against Wilder and losses to Usyk, he has routinely fought C level opponents like Wallin, Ngannou, Wach, Chisora (aside from Dillian Whyte who was at most a B). That’s not to excuse AJ’s last few sham fights, but prime for prime, it’s clear which resume is stronger and which fighter is the more willing to actually fight. To be clear, the one with the better resume and willingness to fight all comers isn’t a fat slob with a drink and drug habit.
Got in with Usyk with no bother? Usyk was forced upon him. It was either fight Usyk or give up the belt. Usyk had just had a tough fight against Chisora and wasn't seen as a future HW kingpin. Joshua was a 3-1 favorite over Usyk. To act like he went out hunting a tough fight in Usyk is fanboy nonsense. He fought a mandatory cruiserweight moving up and if he didn't he'd have to hand his belt over. They sure as hell wouldn't have fought Usyk if they knew how it would unfold. Fury fought Usyk after it was clear just how good Usyk is for undisputed, and performed better than Joshua just 18 months ago. Somehow you're trying to make this a positive for Joshua and a negative for Fury. Chisora would be Joshua's best win in about 8 years, but yes, what an embarrassing win for Fury. What a C level opponent. Joshua's entire resume is old men, Joseph Parker, and guys like Charles Martin who you'd call terrible if Wilder had beaten him.
You still haven't addressed the two (at least) occasions AJ has signed a contract to fight Fury (awaits epic BS response)
Joshua had two mandatories: one with the IBF and Pulev who everyone knew was washed and not a threat, the other with the WBO and Usyk. Joshua/Hearn pursue Pulev who is 39 years old and doesn't have a great win to his name. They then "pursue" the Fury fight which I believe all parties involved knew wouldn't happen as Wilder could force Fury into another fight. Usyk persisted in getting the fight made with Joshua. A judge ordered Eddie to prove that the Fury fight was on, and if it wasn't, to begin negotiations with Usyk. Eddie fails to prove another credible fight is on, and delay the WBO mandatory asks for AN EXTENSION. They're hoping, praying that something comes up to swerve Usyk who WAS NOT EVEN REGARDED HIGHLY AT THE TIME AS A HW. Such risk taking!
One of those was stopped because of a legal challenge by Wilder for the third fight IIRC, as for the second I thought it was scuppered because of Fury's unrealistic expectations for a 24 hour turn-around, and that AJ didn't sign? In any case, it's rather meaningless as one side will always claim they didn't sign because the other party is making unrealistic demands etc. It's now or never for these two, and frankly the appeal is almost zero given recent events.
People still seem to still live in 2017 when AJ was formidable. They seem to forget he's been brutally stopped twice and his aura of invincibility is destroyed. They should ask themselves why Fury would avoid the fight now. It can't be because he fears losing, as he lost his 0 to Usyk and was happy to put it on the line as bookies underdog vs Chisora 2011, David Haye in 2013, 11-year undefeated Wlad as bookies underdog, Wilder I & II as bookies underdog, and finally Usyk I. It can't be because he fears being KOd as he fought 11-year undefeated ATG punching Wlad as bookies underdog in Germany, big punching Wilder 3x, twice as bookies underdog, once after just 6 months back after 2.5 years out on a drugs binge, and was signed to fight big punching Haye in 2013. It can't be because he fears reputation damage as his boisterous trash talking mentality pre Haye and Wlad would've been embarrassing for him had he lost. His reputation has also taken a hit post Usyk. It can't be because he fears Joshua, as he fought prime Wilder as above, 11-year undefeated Wlad, undefeated Chisora as a 22-year old, and Usyk who dominated AJ twice. AJ has just been nearly KOd by 9th ranked albanian Pringle. It can't be because he wants to con the british fight fans, as its clearly Hearn & AJ claiming to be the oracles of british boxing in this situation. The final reason is he simply wants more money, which I can accept, although in this situation it seems AJ wants more money due to FX differences between sterling & USD. There's no other reason that makes logical sense when you look at the risks Fury has taken in his pro career to date
But signing a legally binding contract is a "risk" no? If the Wilder arbitration failed the fight would have been on as both has signed for it That's where the Wilder legal challenge stemmed from
1) Yes exactly. He had a mandatory in Usyk that he could’ve swerved but didn’t. He got in with him no bother. Thanks for agreeing on that. 2) I’m not a AJ fanboy. And I never said he went “hunting for a hard fight” in fighting Usyk. To assume that I’m saying that and to imply that it’s “fanboy nonsense” is just Fury fanboy nonsense. I always picked Usyk to beat AJ. Don’t quote betting odds because bookies are casuals. 3) Neither AJ or Fury were able to win more than 4 rounds against Usyk in any given fight, and the showing from AJ in the second fight was every bit as credible as both of Fury’s performances, against a younger Usyk no less. 4) In the last 8 years, AJ has wins over Povetkin, Pulev and Ruiz. All of which were higher level wins than 2022 Chisora. So try again.
1) He didn't get in with Usyk no bother. Joshua/Hearn CHOSE Pulev, the far far easier fight where Joshua was a 10-1 favorite. They then TRIED TO DELAY and get out of the fight with Usyk, but a COURT said no. How is that no bother? They did everything they could until it was quite literally throw your belt in the trash as a super HW champ to avoid a CW, or fight him. 2) I don't know who you are, to be fair. Odds are the odds, Usyk didn't look great against Chisora and perception of him was VERY different when Joshua finally signed to face him vs. when Fury did. 3) Fury won 4-5 rounds in each fight, giving Usyk his toughest fight (Usyk's words), outboxing him for a long spell of the fight. Joshua plodded around the ring for 24 rounds and stunned but didn't hurt Usyk a few times. Wildly different levels of success. 4) The Povetkin (who was 39, by the way) fight was 7.9 years ago, so I guess that counts? Not next month though. Pulev got BEAT by Chisora who went on to string together some good wins / fights at the time, so you'll have a very hard time arguing he was somehow better than that Chisora. Ruiz was a 283 pound blob who wasn't beating anyone in the state he was in, and could barely scrape by 40 year old Arreola when he finally got back in shape. Try again.