Tyson Fury’s US-based co-promoter Bob Arum says they have a lot of options for future opponents if a bout against Anthony Joshua cannot be immediately made.
WBC heavyweight champion Fury 30-0-1 (21) and WBA, WBO and IBF champion Joshua 24-1 (22) were expected to meet in Saudi Arabia in August before an independent arbitrator rules Fury was contractually obliged to face Deontay Wilder 42-1-1 (41) for a third time.
That bout was postponed from July 24 to October 9 after Fury tested positive for Covid-19 and will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Joshua will now face WBO mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk 18-0 (13) at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium in Tottenham, England on September 25.
If Joshua loses to Usyk, there are still plenty of other option for Fury according to Arum.
“There are a lot of good heavyweights that we could fight,” the Top Rank boss told Sky Sports.
“Tyson, because of his personality, has really appealed to the American audience and is such a big favourite in the US.
“He is larger than life, he is a straight talker, and people in the States love him.
“We would do a fight for Tyson in the US while Joshua and Usyk finish their business.”
Ukrainian southpaw Usyk brings a lot to the table in terms of skill. He unified all four major belts in the cruiserweight division and won the World Boxing Super Series after claiming Olympic gold as an amateur.
For the Joshua fight he is being trained by Anatoly Lomachenko who worked with him in the amateurs and is the father of former three-weight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko 15-2 (11).
“Usyk is a friend of mine because he is Vasiliy Lomachenko’s friend,” said Arum. “He is a terrific guy, funny, articulate and smart.
“It is against my economic interest, but I will be rooting for him in the fight! I just can’t help myself.”
Despite his support of Usyk, Arum admits the size difference might be a little too much for the crafty boxer to overcome.
“This is a new era. We have never seen heavyweights of the size that we see now,” he said.
“We’ve never seen a guy of 6’9” like Tyson fight the way he does. Or Joshua. They are all huge.
“Evander Holyfield was a light-heavyweight, then a cruiserweight, then a great heavyweight. Other than Riddick Bowe there weren’t many big guys that he fought.
“Mike Tyson was relatively little.
“In ordinary times a guy like Usyk, against a 6’2” heavyweight, has a really good shot.
“But against a massive guy like Joshua? It may be a bridge too far.”
Joshua, whose lone loss was to Andy Ruiz Jr 34-2 (22) two years ago, has admitted he is already looking ahead to other fights after Usyk.
“I’m looking to do a good job, to handle business, because I have my eyes set on other things,” Joshua said to Sky Sports.
