What do you think the current heavyweight division would look like if Fury never pulled out of the Klitschko rematch? In my parallel universe, Klitschko wins a majority decision over an overweight and lethargic Fury in Manchester. Simply, a disinterested Fury throws even less than the first fight and an ‘obsessed’ Klitschko opens up much more. Wilder would still beat Stiverne for the WBC strap and would make noises about unifying with Klitschko but his actual path would remain unchanged up to present day. AJ would still have fought his way up the rankings beating the likes of Molina and Breazelle but would possibly have KO wins over Chisora and Robert Helenius (for the European title) on his resume. Klitschko would hold a dull safety first points win in Germany over Ortiz and effectively set up a defence against AJ possibly at Wembley but more likely at the smaller O2. For me, AJ knocks out a far less motivated Klitschko in 5 rounds to capture the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO titles.
Hard to even imagine what Wlad would have done though. How he would have fought. What conclusions he would have drawn from the first fight and how he might have adjusted. Say he wins, Joshua is now indisputably lineal, which would be handy, but it wouldn't change the landscape. If Fury wins, things quite possibly just end up exactly as they are now. So pretty much as you were.
Given Fury had so little motivation he couldnt even get through a camp and into a ring, to pick up 10 million for the rematch... I severely doubt that had he got in the ring for the rematch he would have won it. I think Wlad would have knocked him out in the rematch. Following that who knows who Wlad would have fought? How would the peices of the chess board moved? Wlad would have retired at some point, would he have just had one more defence and then retired? Perhaps.... Following that AJ would get himself a shot and win a belt or two, but it would take longer for him to be in the position that he is today no doubt.
Not sure if that Fury could of pulled it off, he was clearly a mess at the time, out of shape, snorting coke, mentally a wreck. Also wasn't Fury technically suspended from June 2016 by UKAD, so it's unlikely he could have proceeded with the fight even if he wanted to. But ignoring that, I think Wlad may have been able to find a way to win as he clearly raised his game vs Joshua after the loss to Fury and Fury would of been ripe for the picking. Joshua seemed to be headed towards a Wilder fight before Fury was stripped and the IBF belt was won by Martin. I don't think Hearn would of risked Joshua facing the winner of Fury/Wlad rematch just yet. Hearn saw the Martin fight as a calculated risk an undefeated Fury or resurgent Wlad might of been too much of a risk. I think Wilder would of avoided Joshua, too much risk for too little reward as without that win over Wlad, Joshua would be stuck making £2-3 mill per fight. Maybe Wilder would of continued ducking Wlad or maybe he see's Wlad's loss to Fury as a sign of weakness and they dare to unify. Or if Fury beat Wlad but struggles he sees Fury as ripe for the picking.
The reason the fight didnt happen was because Fury knew he was in bad shape and going to get a beating. He would rather walk away with bragging rights then money and a loss.
Nah, even fat and depressed Fury could whoop Wlad and AJ. Both those guys gotta show something more to have an argument for winning. Fury wasn't forced to fight a fast pace, there's no reason to believe he needs to be in shape to perform the exact same movements in the same fashion, and there's no reason to believe either Wlad or Josh have another gear to shift to. Even fat Fury can lean over, make faces, and pivot. He'd just turn Wlad like he did and if AJ doesn't learn how to not follow and not fight in lines his ass will get turnt up too.
