Anthony Joshua regained the IBF, WBA, WBO and the less considered IBO belt from Andy Ruiz Jr in one of the biggest sporting events of the year at the weekend, but do not expect ‘AJ’ to be stepping into a ring any time soon against ‘Gypsy King’ Tyson Fury or ‘Bronze Bomber’ Deontay Wilder, holder of the other belt, the WBC heavyweight crown.
Ruiz lost out in more way than one, I can reveal. A double whammy. I have it on good authority that had Ruiz won the dust-up in the dunes, Fury may have stepped aside with a guarantee to fight the winner for the undisputed title between Wilder and Ruiz. All the belts.
It was legitimately being discussed. It is now just a mirage for Ruiz. But the three mega-fights to determine the best of the generation are still there to be made. And sorry to say this, folks, but the soundings in the hours after the fight in Diriyah both from Joshua himself and his promoter Eddie Hearn all point to the politics of boxing, rival broadcasters and egos jockeying towards a menu of frustration over the coming months.
They will face the mandatory challengers, try to keep hold of the belts, and deal with the ire of sports fans. Here’s why: Joshua and Hearn have wrested back control of the heavyweight division for two reasons: they hold 75 per cent of the division’s baubles, and can call the tune.
“When they are ready,” said the big lad from Watford, who it looks most likely, will face Ukrainan Oleksandr Usyk next. Good fight, that.
I must say, too, that I felt a deep pang of delight for Joshua in watching him stick to his guns and restrain himself, protecting the china around his chin, though still looking vulnerable at times in the fight. Nothing wrong there, either. It’s a fight.
And in rounds four and eight, there were moments of concern. High guard, though, long strong jab, occasional right hands and just one uppercut that landed won Joshua at least nine of rounds comfortably on my card.
I had the privilege of Frank Bruno and Shannon Briggs, both former world heavyweight champions, on either side of me in a three-way conversation on the unfolding action, and they were clearly pleased with him, and for him. He’s good for boxing.
Years ago, we were all willing Bruno to stay upright for the last two rounds against Oliver McCall as the popular Briton claimed the world crown at the fourth attempt. There was clear method in this camp from the two-time champion. Joshua cautiously protecting his chin is a good thing.
His two great rivals-Wilder and Fury-are completely different fighters and therefore, Joshuacreating his own style, only advances his cause, and his skills. Practise makes perfect. Had an instinctive feeling once Ruiz weighed in 15lbs heavier than he was in New York on June 1 that the amicable Mexican-American had been enjoying the ‘praedae’, the spoils, a little too much.
No matter, though, and credit to Joshua who has, in my estimation, now grossed over 150 million pounds in career earnings. Keep going and he will treble that. Destroy all, and he could become a billionaire boxer.
What is worth celebrating with Joshua-just as we have seen of late with Fury-is that he is a role model. Show me the negative stories spilling out on Joshua since he claimed Olympic gold in 2012. They aren’t there. Good for him, good for the sport, and his triumph in Saudi Arabia, for all the sub-plots of a less-than-rosy regime, resonates for a phalanx of British boxers in his long commercial shadow and on the global boring scene.
Fury, on the other hand, has become more of a “peoples’ champion” through the remarkable journey and mental health issues he has overcome. Their meeting in a ring, anytime soon, will be the biggest, greatest fight we have ever seen on these shores. Joshua is not quite ready for Fury, in my view, nor indeed for Wilder-though that is more of a shoot-out-but a couple more fights to hone the way he fought in ‘a jab-jab, move, hold technique’ will do Joshua no harm.
Hearn told me on Sunday morning after the fight. “Obviously early days, but the plan is to maintain the belts, so we will have to have conversations this week with the IBF and the WBO to see who goes first. It’s our understanding that the IBF mandatory comes first, which is Kubrat Pulev (IBF No 1 ranked challenger), so realistically it is Pulev and then Oleksandr Usyk (WBO No 1 ranked challenger) in that order, and maybe with Dereck Chisora fighting Usyk in February or March and then AJ fights the winner. So, we are not looking to vacate the belts, but obviously we are delighted. AJ always wants the undisputed fight and obviously that’s the (long-term) plan, but that’s not available in the short term. But it’s now onwards and upwards for the AJ journey.”
Hearn has no issue with a long wait for the division’s biggest clashes. A marathon, not a sprint. What we know is that Wilder versus Fury is expected to be on Feb 22 in Las Vegas-but it has not yet been confirmed officially. Josha has 180 days to defend WBO title, so he could fight Usyk in June, or even July (WBO would allow), and it looks as if the fight with winner of Wilder/Fury-at the moment-looking possible only very late in the year.
That may be out of synch for Joshua, or even Wilder, if he defeats Fury. Though I suspect if Fury wins part two with Wilder, Fury will push for the Joshua fight with alacrity. The Big Fight, for the No 1 in the division, will happen, if at all in 2020, very late in the year.