THE heavyweight division is in a state of flux. Tyson Fury has withdrawn from his rematch with Wladimir Klitschko due to a medical issue, cancelling their clash for the WBA and WBO heavyweight titles which had been scheduled for October 29. Despite the disappointment of the champion being out of action, other intriguing possibilities have been raised. Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko is under discussion.
On Saturday morning, the day after the news broke, Eddie Hearn, Joshuaโs promoter, had a long conversation with Bernd Boente, the head of the Klitschko management group.
โThey like the fight against Joshua, we like the fight against Klitschko,โ Hearn said. Joshua does have an IBF heavyweight title defence scheduled for November 26 in the Manchester Arena and is currently without an opponent. Itโs unlikely though that Wladimir could be drafted in so quickly to fill vacancy.
โI donโt think theyโd want to be a voluntary challenger for Joshuaโs IBF title, it puts them in a weaker negotiating spot,โ Hearn stated. โI believe Tyson Fury will be stripped of all his titles, thatโs what I believe. He can be put into recess, which I think thatโs what theyโll do.โ After an injury a titlist can be made a โchampion in recessโ, giving him the right to challenge for the title when heโs recovered.
โNow everyone will be like a piranha, Lucas Browne will be saying โme against Klitschko for the WBA titleโ. WBO, whoโs it going to be, etc. etc. Peter Fury, Mick Hennessy and Tyson Fury will now get on the legal battle to keep the belt. Itโs going to take time. Talking through the deal with Bernd Boente itโs a deal that would be very easy to do but itโs just the politics around it. My gut feeling it will happen in spring/summer of next year and weโll fight Joseph Parker on November 26, get the mandatory out the way. I think he will fight for the vacant title and then I think weโll fight because weโve got the basis of the deal. It was that good a conversation. He is up for it. I spoke to Joshua and he is up for it,โ Hearn continued.
โIt feels a little bit too early. I think he beats Klitschko, I do,โ the promoter mused. โAlso some people say well Joseph Parker might be just as tough a fight as Wladimir Klitschko. You donโt know what heโs got left. He looked awful in his last fight. Was that because Fury was brilliant or is it because heโs finished? Both I think. I think heโs done. But heโs still very good. Itโs not really the power, the strength, itโs just the experience. Thatโs the only worrying thing for me for Joshua in that fight. Heโs had 18 fights. But the conversation was so good, it was Bernd Boente saying weโve had enough, we need to fight now. Itโs just can they force the governing bodyโs arm?โ