The World Boxing Council rankings have been revised, with Deontay Wilder now holding the top position while Anthony Joshua is ranked just below him at #2. This places their upcoming bout as a decisive match to determine the challenger for heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
Anthony Joshua has officially accepted the conditions for a highly anticipated showdown with former WBC champion Deontay Wilder, a bout that has been brewing for more than half a decade. However, the location for this heavyweight clash has not been confirmed as of yet. As the fight is between the top two contenders, they could possibly slap on mandatory status.
The WBC have now rearranged their heavyweight rankings with Deontay Wilder #1 and Anthony Joshua #2, while Andy Ruiz has dropped to #5. This means that if AJ vs Wilder can be finalised, it will also be a final eliminator to determine Tyson Fury’s next WBC mandatory challenger.
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) September 9, 2023
This means that the reigning WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury, has to accept a fight with the winner of the above match-up, and if he fails to do so, he shall be stripped of the title. However, that scenario depends on whether Joshua vs. Wilder materializes. As of now, it seems that efforts are being made to host the big fight in January next year.
Tyson Fury says he is just fighting for money now
WBC champion and arguably one of the greatest heavyweight fighters, Tyson Fury, has recently expressed that he is no longer interested in fighting for legacy or greatness. He is now just fighting for money and will continue to do so as he wants to financially secure his family and even future generations.
This is also the reason why he is set to fight former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in October. The fight has been heavily criticized, as Fury has not defended his WBC heavyweight title after defeating Derek Chisora in a one-sided affair in December last year.
After the Chisora fight, a unification bout with Oleksandr Usyk was what fans demanded, as it would give them the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. However, the undefeated veteran did not seem interested.
During a recent press conference for his upcoming clash with Francis Ngannou on October 28th, Fury appeared noticeably out of shape. Additionally, the champion has expressed his eagerness to pursue fights in the cage against Francis Ngannou and UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones, citing a substantial financial gain that would put him on Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes.
So, Fury is clear about his plans for the near future and does not seem interested in the sport like he used to be. Where do you think this leaves the world of heavyweight boxing? Should he be stripped of the title already? Tell us in the comments!
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