Frank Warren, the co-promoter for WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, is still focused on eventually finalizing a fight with IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO champion Anthony Joshua.
Last weekend, Fury was close to finalizing a deal to face Joshua on target date of August 14 in Saudi Arabia.
But then last Monday, an arbitrator issued a ruling which ordered Fury to honor his rematch clause with Deontay Wilder.
The contractual obligation stems from their February 2020 rematch, which saw Fury stop Wilder in seven rounds to capture the WBC title.
Fury and Wilder are now scheduled to collide on July 24th in Las Vegas, while Joshua is heading in the direction of a mandatory defense against Oleksandr Usyk.
Should both champions win, Warren says the priority would be to stage Fury vs. Joshua on a date in December.
“Tyson Fury is facing Deontay Wilder next – but let’s make it very clear now that we want Anthony Joshua in December. There is no doubt the Gypsy King will want to face his fellow Brit in a blockbuster fight. And we are keen that it is for the undisputed heavyweight title,” Warren told The Daily Star.
“So my message to Joshua is if you defend the WBO title against Oleksandr Usyk then make sure you don’t slip up. We will be waiting in December once Fury wipes the floor with Wilder again this summer. The Gypsy King will keep hold of the WBC title to play his part in an undisputed showdown.
“But should Joshua opt to give up the WBO title and face lesser opposition than Usyk, then our man Joe Joyce will be ready to take on the Ukrainian. There won’t be any running from Joyce as he has been patiently biding his time for that fight. We couldn’t make it as we were waiting to see if Fury against Joshua would happen and the potential legal issues that may have presented themselves.
“But Joyce won’t fear facing Usyk if Joshua decides he doesn’t want to face his mandatory challenger. It would be a shame if Fury against Joshua is not for the undisputed crown but it is a win-win situation for us as our stable will get another world heavyweight champion.
“The arbitration decision to force Fury into a third fight with Wilder was disappointing. But it was clear in the contracts signed by all parties involved in the fight that it was happening and we were awaiting the outcome of it. So nobody has been left in the dark over it. Everyone knew what was happening.”
Source:BoxingScene