After Oleksandr Usyk defeated Anthony Joshua to retain the WBO, WBA and IBF world heavyweight championships, the obvious combat in boxing turned Usyk vs. WBC titleholder Tyson Fury in a battle to crown the primary undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt period. Besides, Tyson Fury might or is probably not retired.
Fury introduced his retirement within the ring following his April knockout of Dillian Whyte. Then, on Aug. 9, Fury posted on social media that he’d determined to return to boxing for a trilogy bout with Derek Chisora. 4 days later, Fury once more introduced he was retired after a deal was not reached with Chisora.
Whereas Fury adopted up his second retirement announcement in 4 months by formally vacating his Ring Journal championship in order that the previously prestigious “title” could possibly be up for grabs within the rematch between Usyk and Joshua, he didn’t do the identical along with his precise world title, exhibiting once more that his retirement was unlikely to stay.
Predictably, after Usyk’s win, Fury went on social media, referred to as each fighters “shite” and stated to get the checkbooks out as he was “right here to remain.”
After all, nothing Fury is ever easy. Early Wednesday morning, Fury posted a video stating that he’d positioned a seven-day deadline for “suitors” to submit presents for a combat with Usyk to his lawyer together with proof of funds. And, if it will probably’t all be labored out in a single week’s time, “thanks very a lot, it has been a blast, I am retired.”
Usyk has hinted that he might grasp up the gloves ought to he not be capable of safe the Fury combat. That appears odd, however at 35 years outdated, having been undisputed cruiserweight champion and having collected each attainable heavyweight belt except for Fury’s WBC strap, what else is there for Usyk to do? To not point out the truth that Ukraine continues to be coping with the Russian invasion and that’s clearly, and understandably, weighing heavy on Usyk.
Whereas it appears doubtless that Usyk, Fury and their groups will ultimately work out the particulars for an enormous payday for each males, the chance that the close to future may see each males retired — whether or not earlier than or after they combat — leaves the division with one thing of a darkish future.
Deontay Wilder, who went 0-2-1 with Fury, and Joshua can be left standing as one of the best heavyweights on the planet, each of whom had been in the end confirmed to be a step under their elite rivals. Wilder is seeking to get again within the win column on Oct. 15 when he fights Robert Helenius.
A combat between Joshua and Wilder has been long-discussed and continues to be an thrilling prospect however in the end leaves a way of “OK, then what?”
Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Luis Ortiz takes place on Sept. 4 and the winner will stay in the course of the highest 10 however face an identical challenge as Wilder and Joshua in any try to assert to be “the man.” Ruiz has an excellent quantity of identify worth from defeating Joshua of their first assembly however broken his fame significantly by exhibiting up badly off form for the rematch the place Joshua left little doubt he was the higher fighter. Ortiz, in the meantime, has twice been knocked out by Wilder.
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One other former Joshua sufferer, Joseph Parker, shall be in motion Sept. 24 when he takes on Joe Joyce in a combat that has already suffered a handful of delays and drama. Joyce is undefeated at 14-0 and a former Olympic silver medalist, however he will even be turning 37 the week main as much as the combat. The winner of that combat doubtless turns into the WBO’s necessary challenger.
One other necessary was decided on the undercard of Usyk vs. Joshua 2, when Filip Hrgovic remained undefeated with a largely undeserved break up choice win over Zhilei Zhang. For years, promoters have salivated on the concept of touchdown Zhang a world title combat in China, the place the combat would do huge enterprise. The loss to Hrgovic and the potential that Fury and Usyk preserve the titles tied up whereas they combat as soon as, if not twice, imply Zhang will not have that chance earlier than he turns 40 subsequent Could.
Hrgovic did not do a lot to show himself towards Zhang as he appeared uninterested all through the combat and didn’t reply nicely when Zhang utilized strain, which isn’t a recipe for elite heavyweight success.
All of that is to say, what has been a revival within the heavyweight division seems to be winding down its ultimate days together with the careers of Fury and Usyk. Joshua and Wilder will be capable of maintain down the division for a bit, however the checklist of interesting challengers past them is brief and primarily constructed on males whose time has come and gone.
That is to not say there isn’t any hope for the longer term at heavyweight. Jared Anderson is probably the most thrilling American heavyweight to return alongside since Wilder. He’s already 11-0 at 22 years outdated and has knocked out everybody he has confronted as an expert. He fights for the primary time in 2022 on Saturday when he faces Miljan Rovcanin.
One other shiny spot at heavyweight is Daniel Dubois. A former English, British and Commonwealth champion, the 24-year-old Dubois’ profession took successful in November 2020 when he suffered a stoppage loss towards Joyce. Dubois has since recovered nicely and has rattled off three knockout victories, together with profitable a WBA secondary title with a fourth-round stoppage of veteran Trevor Bryan.
Because the heavyweight division goes, so goes boxing. Whereas it could appear bleak with the place issues stand now, heavyweight all the time has a approach of producing one other star to hold the limelight.