This is Rummy's Corner.
The heavyweight landscape is slowly beginning to show signs of recovery following the lockdown
resulting from the global pandemic.
Back in August we had the explosive encounter between Alexander Povetkin and Dillian Whyte,
where Povetkin was dropped twice in the 4th round, before he rallied back to score a dramatic
stoppage victory that resurrected his waning career.
This was the bout that effectively helped with getting the division back on track, and
these two are tentatively scheduled to have a return bout on November 21.
But before that rematch, at the end of this month, we have an interesting match-up between
former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and former heavyweight title challenger
Dereck Chisora.
That one is tentatively scheduled for Halloween, October 31, just a few short weeks away.
Then a week after that, on November 7, up and coming prospect Filip Hrgovic is tentatively
slated to square off against Rydell Booker.
rgovic is coming off a 2nd round stoppage against Kartozia just a few weeks back.
Then on November 28, we have a tentatively scheduled contest between two undefeated heavyweight
prospects, Joe Joyce and Daniel Dubois.
That's an interesting one for sure.
And then on December 12, unified IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua
is tentatively slated to defend his titles against Kubrat Pulev.
That one will represent the first heavyweight championship contest since things were sidetracked
by COVID-19.
So that August fight when Povetkin defeated Whyte, that was the fight that got the ball
rolling again during this difficult year for boxing, and indeed, a difficult year for all
things beyond boxing.
It is very easy to lose sight of the fact that the highly anticipated mega bout rematch
between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder actually even happened earlier this year, as that one
preceded the unprecedented lockdown.
On that note, Fury and Wilder are still supposed to be having a third match-up.
This is something that is contractually obligated to happen, and that seems to be headed for
some time maybe in December, or perhaps sometime early next year.
But the thing of it is, fans aren't especially excited for that one.
Fury won their rematch in an absolute mismatch, and in the eyes of many observers, Fury should
hold two victories against Wilder, even though officially he has one victory and a draw.
But more importantly, the real reason there is less interest in a third fight between
Fury and Wilder stems from the fact that the fight boxing fans really want to see, is an
epic showdown for heavyweight supremacy between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
In theory at least, if that fight were to happen next, notwithstanding any wouldbe shenanigans
from the hopelessly incompetent sanctioning bodies, a bout between Fury and Joshua would
produce the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis some 20 years ago.
That's the fight boxing fans want!
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua!
But will the fight actually happen?
And if it does eventually happen, will it actually happen when it still matters as much
as it theoretically would right now?
Unfortunately, I think the answer to that question is probably not.
Although, to be sure, I definitely hope I'm wrong about this!
Because a fight between Fury and Joshua is undoubtedly the single most important match
that can possibly be made at this time.
I just have doubts that it will come together any time before 2022 at the earliest, and
by that point it may not command the same type of significance.
For starters, there is all this uncertainty surrounding COVID.
Boxing is a sport that heavily relies on the live gate, and a fight of this magnitude might
be difficult to come together given that uncertainty.
When Povetkin defeated Whyte, you can see the referee wearing a mask.
So nobody knows if and when life will ever fully return to normal, and that's potentially
a huge obstacle.
Then you have all the normal obstacles that come with the bullshit from sanctioning bodies
and their mandatory obligations, where they don't give a shit about boxing fans.
These sanctioning bodies seem far more concerned about lining their own pockets, and this often
means denying fans the fights they wanna see that make sense.
Look no further than the fact AJ is defending his unified championship against Pulev.
And that's just one of his mandatory obligations, the others which will be necessary in due
time per the whims of the alphabet bodies.
And of course, the other big obstacle here is that Fury and Wilder are contractually
obligated to have a third meeting.
Fans don't seem too interested in this one (although maybe more interested than AJ vs
Pulev) but unfortunately this seems inevitable.
So the politics of boxing not only prolongs the process of making the fights that fans
want, but it also endangers everything, because this is heavyweight boxing where a single
punch can change the outcome of a fight.
Look no further than Anthony Joshua getting stopped by Andy Ruiz Jr in June of last year.
Back then before that fight, the fight fans really wanted was a showdown between AJ and
Wilder.
It never came together, and the aura surrounding that mega-bout has dwindled considerably,
as Wilder and Joshua have both lost since interest in a showdown between the two had
reached an all time high.
Who knows?
Maybe Pulev can surprise everyone and shake things up.
Or maybe Wilder will be more focused and find a way to land that powerhouse punch that keeps
Fury down?
I don't think either of those scenarios are very likely, but what the hell do I know?
Anyone who's followed my channel knows that I don't know shit about boxing!
My predictions suck out loud.
But what I do know is that anything can happen, and promoters, boxers, and alphabet big wigs
alike - none of them should be counting their chickens prematurely.
Look no further than COVID derailing the entire boxing business landscape, where the business
is scrambling to make the best of a new playing field.
With all of these potential obstacles, I have a hard time believing that a fight between
Fury and Joshua will come together any time before 2022.
Will it still be relevant then?
Sure, maybe!
But it's impossible to say, and the more time that passes, the uncertainty of the proposition
looms stronger.
What I do know is that now - right NOW - there is no bigger matchup that can be made in all
of boxing.
That's the fight we want!
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua for the undisputed heavyweight championship!
Unfortunately, I am not very hopeful that this one will happen while it still matters
as much as it would right now.
Such is the sad state the boxing fans have long endured.
But who knows?
Maybe the shifting business practices resulting from COVID-19 will result in innovation that
helps bring us the big fights when they matter, and perhaps the boxing Gods will bless us
fans next year with a Fury-Joshua mega bout for undisputed heavyweight supremacy.
One can only hope!
So what do you think?
Will a fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua actually happen when it still matters?
Please share your thoughts in the comment section.
Thanks for watching everyone, I hope you enjoyed, and have a wonderful night.
This is Rummy's Corner.