One heavyweight champion believes the WBA’s controversial decision – to sanction Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua as a world title fight – is making a mockery of the sport.
This has not been confirmed by the sanctioning body itself but, according to promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, the WBA ‘super’ title will indeed be on the line at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
The main criticism, it seems, is that neither Fury nor Joshua has merited the opportunity to become a three-time world champion, given their respective stoppages over Mariusz Wach and Kristian Prenga in July.
Suffice to say, these were far from high-calibre opponents and, even before their latest outings, it could hardly be said that victories over Arslanbek Makhmudov and Jake Paul were particularly inspiring, either.
Yet still it would appear that Fury and ‘AJ’ will collide for a major title on December 11, while Murat Gassiev looks set to remain the WBA ‘regular’ heavyweight champion.
Speaking with The Stomping Ground, IBF champion Filip Hrgovic said this decision by the WBA is making boxing seem like more of a circus than a sport.
“That’s funny, man. It’s a bulls**t decision. I don’t know how they find [a] belt for that kind of fight. Who they fought in their last fights? They’re both big superstars, but how are they fighting for a title?
“These kinds of decisions are killing the sport; [they’re] not good for the sport. Because of these funny decisions, people don’t consider boxing a serious sport.”
Unlike other champions, Hrgovic won his world title in an honest fashion as he scored a stunning ninth-round finish over Moses Itauma in August.
