Fans could see the much-anticipated all-British heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury next, even if the two fighters lose their next bouts. The odds are high that one or both of them will lose their next fights, especially in Fury’s case.
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh is interested in making the Joshua-Fury fight, and he doesn’t care if Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) loses to IBF champion Daniel Dubois on September 21 and if Fury in his rematch against WBA unbeaten, WBC and WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk on December 21.
Turki wants the Joshua-Fury fight, and he states that the world wants to see it too. As such, Turki plans to offer the fight to the 36-year-old Fury and Joshua after their next fights. He is not sure if they will accept. The UK wants to see Joshua-Fury, but I wouldn’t include the world. They view those guys as aging, pampered, flawed fighters with shaky resumes.
The Pride Factor
There is pride involved with AJ and Fury, as neither will feel comfortable walking away from defeats to meet in a money fight. It would destroy the two Brits mentally as they walk away from crushing defeats to Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs) and Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs).
In Fury’s case, he might retire if he loses the rematch with Usyk, especially if he is knocked out as it would be his second straight loss and a clear sign that he has his number.
With Joshua, he would push for a rematch with the 26-year-old Dubois, as he would feel he has turned things around with the right game plan and perhaps a new trainer who isn’t just blowing smoke from his tailpipe. He would have to dump his coaches and start over because staying with his current team would be pointless.
If Dubois knocks Joshua out on September 21st, he will likely do the same thing to him in a rematch due to his youth and tough nature.
“If Usyk wins (rematch with Fury on December 21), I still want to see Joshua against Tyson if they accept,” Turki Alalshikh told talksport Boxing YouTube channel about wanting the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua mega-fight, even if one or both lose their preliminary clashes against Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois.
The reality check
Turki says that sounds good, but Joshua and Fury will never accept a fight coming off losses. Again, they have too much pride and won’t be able to live with themselves if they come back in their mega fight due to defeats.
“I won’t try to do the third (Fury-Usyk) fight until I have Tyson and Joshua,” Turki continued.
“As a fan, I think it (Joshua-Dubois on September 21) will be a tough fight, but I think Joshua will win. You don’t know. It’s boxing, especially heavyweights, but I want to see Joshua and Tyson, and the world wants to see Joshua and Tyson.
