WBC plans Fury, Joshua showdown

The World Boxing Council may order current heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury, to fight Anthony Joshua in the summer due to Fury’s failure to reach an agreement with any other opponent for a fight.

Joshua is therefore now the number one contender to lift the championship belt if he can beat Fury in an eagerly anticipated fight.

President, World Boxing Council, Mauricio Sulaimán, explained that it was important that Fury had a rival as soon as possible to be able to carry out the entire weigh-in process and marketing of the fight.

“We have to take some action. There are different options. I will address this with the Governing Board,” Sulaimán said during an interview with Sky Sports.

“That’s a possibility, if Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz aren’t fighting for final elimination, Joshua is right there at number three in the rankings. That’s possible.”

The action by the WBC board of directors were prompted after the breakdown of negotiations with Oleksandr Uyk, who had emerged as Fury’s next rival for the undisputed championship.

The meeting between Ruiz and Wilder was expected to confirm an eliminator bout to face Fury but there have been no progress afterwards.

The ‘Gypsy King’ last starred in a bout in December 2022 against Derek Chisora, whom he managed to beat in 10 rounds in a highly disputed showdown.