If heavyweight boxing fans endured a frustrating time of late, then their patience could soon be rewarded with an historic night in the Middle East.
If the Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua debacle, which left both camps blaming the other after negotiations for a December bout fell through, was somewhat predictable - then the Fury v Oleksandr Usyk collapse bordered on farce. After months of vowing to face off for a unification bout, issues arose when 'The Gypsy King' started demanding more money for a Wembley bout.
Despite his Ukrainian opponent initially calling his bluff and agreeing to a 70/30 split, arguments then broke out over rematch proposals. Eventually talks disintegrated, leaving pundits and enthusiasts wondering if a potential golden era for the division would go to waste.
But it could yet be revived in the most spectacular way possible. Radio host Simon Jordan initially got tongues wagging on the talkBOXING show, claiming: “There’s a lingering observation and, I suppose rumour, that’s seeded I think in some substance – that there is a series of fights being arranged in the Middle East that involve Fury, Usyk, Joshua and Wilder."
Fury's trainer Malik Scott later added fuel to the fire by claiming that Fury v Usyk and Joshua v Deontay Wilder would take place on the same card, and speaking to iFL TV, Eddie Hearn was quizzed on the rumours. And the promoter of 'AJ' admitted that discussions were underway.
“There has definitely been conversations that have taken place where people would like to host Fury against Usyk and AJ against Wilder on the same night," he said. "It will cost a lot of money, but it would be our pick, and we will have those conversations. Our focus is to get that big mega-fight in December over the line."
Joshua returned to the ring last month and laboured to a points win over Jermaine Franklin, and duly announced afterwards he would not be back until December. But Hearn did not completely rule out a summer bout, adding: “We’re focusing on getting the December fight over the line, which is a fight of huge proportion, and then we’ll make a decision on the July fight in the coming weeks."
It was widely perceived that the breakdown of the Fury v Usyk bout was due to them being unable to secure a venue in the Middle East, meaning substantially less money for both fighters. But the potential of such a lucrative event would inevitably revive interest amongst both parties.
And a clash with Joshua would also serve as the perfect platform for Wilder to return to the big stage. The 37-year-old has fought since once since his trilogy defeat top Fury, dishing out a savage KO to Robert Helenius last October.
