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Tyson Fury has brutally dismissed the prospect of Anthony Joshua facing Deontay Wilder on the undercard of the Gypsy King’s own heavyweight unification fight with Oleksandr Usyk, branding the proposed support fight as “the battle of the biggest loser”.
WBC belt holder Fury is set to face Ukrainian Usyk – who holds the WBA, WBO and IBF belts – in a blockbuster event that will determine the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
The multimillion-pound show is set to take place in Saudi Arabia and could be scheduled for as early as December 23, although it seems more likely to go ahead in early 2024.
Talk of a double-headline bill with Joshua and Wilder has been mooted since the summer but came to nothing, however, Joshua has reignited speculation by suggesting that he could still appear on the undercard against the American fighter.
Boxing fans around the globe would no doubt be excited to have a star-studded bill with all four fighters on the card to look forward to early next year, but it would seem that Fury is having absolutely none of it.
Speaking to IFL TV, Fury said: “It’s quite embarrassing really when you’ve got a former heavyweight world champion begging for a fight, begging to be on the undercard. Is he a child or what?
“He wants to go on my undercard? Him vs Wilder? Battle of the biggest loser? Go and get your own show.”
With no official date yet confirmed for the heavyweight unification fight between Fury and Usyk, Joshua told reporters at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas last weekend: “They want to put Usyk-Fury, Joshua-Wilder on the same night. That might not happen until April.”
“When Fury gets through Ngannou, it is going to be late October, early November, so I doubt he will now prepare for Usyk and fight in December, it’s too short. So the next window will probably be in March-April, so that’s probably when the undisputed fight will potentially happen.
“Then obviously what we are being told is they want to make it a mega card and they like the sound of Joshua v Wilder on the same card as well.”
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But whether it actually comes to fruition remains to be seen – especially after Fury’s latest comments on the idea.
The Gyspy King’s own fight purse split negotiations with Usyk were protracted for months so it seems unlikely that he would be willing to have another two big names on the same card eating into the vast revenue on offer.
Fury will warm up for his pending day of destiny with Usyk by facing former MMA star Francis Ngannou in a crossover boxing match in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night. Fury’s belt will not be on the line.
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