Wembley will wait
It’s the fight all sports fans want to see and, if recent reports in the media are to be believed, Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury is closer than ever. The pair are rumoured to have agreed, in principle, to a heavyweight world title unification fight this year, having thrashed out the finer details of negotiations.
Both men have been accused in the past of avoiding the other, but AJ and the Gypsy King are proud champions. They didn’t get to the top of the sport’s most popular division by ducking opponents, and they won’t start now. The Brits want to give fans something they haven’t had for far too long – one recognised and respected world heavyweight champion.
Why hasn’t the fight been announced yet, and what is the hold-up or the latest hold-up?
The fight must make sense to all
Everyone connected to this fight has already spoken of their desire to stage the bout in the UK, with a packed Wembley Stadium being the preferred option. To make this one work, bringing two famous champions of the world together to risk their titles for the chance to become the undisputed king of the ring doesn’t come cheaply. Both fighters want the fight but both demand to be paid handsomely to make it happen.
The pay-per-view figures should be the biggest the sport has ever seen, and the sponsorship deals will bring in large sums of cash too. However, it still isn’t enough for this fight to make sense to all involved, including Joshua, Fury, the managers and promoters. It needs to happen at a sell-out venue. Gate receipts are a must.
Why is that a problem? Joshua vs Fury could sell out Wembley twice over and still attract substantial pay-per-view figures. The main hurdle is the current coronavirus restrictions in the UK banning mass gatherings. Things are developing, with rules easing quickly, but will they be quick enough to ensure this fight happens on home soil? That’s a question that remains unanswered, and there are likely to be no guarantees soon.
Postponing too much of a risk
Couldn’t both fighters postpone the match until later in the year or, even better, the early months of next year? By then, things will, hopefully, be back to normal with sports stadiums packed out and social distancing a thing of the past. Plenty of other sports have had to make sacrifices, including Euro 2020 and the Tokyo Olympics. What’s so special about Fury versus Joshua that we all can’t wait?
The simple answer to that is the risk. Yes, both fighters could postpone for a year, but that would mean another 12 months out of the ring and another extended period of not fulfilling their obligations to defend the belts. The delay could even see them stripped of the titles. At present, Joshua’s last fight was in December 2020 when knocking out Kubrat Pulev at an empty Wembley Arena. Fury hasn’t been seen in a boxing ring since February 2020 when taking Deontay Wilder’s WBC belt with a stunning seventh-round stoppage.
Neither man can afford to wait any longer and continue to put their careers on ice until the UK government gives the green light. Fury especially needs to return to the ring after fighting only once last year.
Both men could take on other opponents abroad or behind closed doors to keep them active. That would help fill the gap but, again, there’s far too much risk involved in that strategy. If either fighter lost a warm-up bout or suffered an injury, such as a cut that required multiple stitches, it could further postpone Joshua vs Fury. There’s too much money at stake to gamble.
The fight could be held overseas
The alternative is to host the fight overseas, somewhere fans are back in arenas, and COVID rules are more relaxed than in England. Possibilities include America, Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
Fighting abroad isn’t a problem for either man. Joshua hasn’t boxed in his home country since 2018. The Gypsy King’s last three have been in Las Vegas, and he enjoys a massive following in the states. The bout taking place in America would feel like a home show for the number one ranked heavyweight globally.