Anthony Joshua’s bid to pick up Wladimir Klitschko on the rebound from Tyson Fury hinges on what becomes of the titles the Gypsy King wrested from the Ukrainian almost a year ago.
With Fury declared psychologically unfit for his long-delayed October 29 rematch with Klitschko in Manchester, opportunity knocks for an alternative mega-fight in the same arena.
Joshua is booked to defend his IBF world title there in November, against a yet-to-be decided opponent, and his promoter Eddie Hearn has opened talks with Klitschko’s manager Bernd Boente.
A battle with Klitschko would be a massive attraction but Boente cautions: Wladimir is not averse to fighting Joshua but that is not his first priority. What he wants most is the chance to regain the belts he lost to Fury.
We are awaiting decisions from the WBA, WB0 and IBO as to whether they will strip Fury and what steps they would take with regard to those titles falling vacant.’
Fury’s second withdrawal from his contracted return bout with Klitschko is described by Boente as “torture for Wladimir”.
He adds: “Fury has kept Wladimir inactive for a year and required him to start training for this fight twice. But while ideally he would like a fight before the end of this year he would prefer it to be for his old belts.
“It would be premature for us to begin negotiations with Joshua before we know the situation with those sanctioning bodies.”
Joshua won the IBF title, also previously held by Klitschko, after Fury was stripped of that for failing to meet a mandatory challenger.
It has emerged that Fury, who suffers from chronic depression, has been warned he would be in danger of a mental breakdown in the ring.
If, as expected, his treatment takes several months, the “alpha-belt” bodies will have no option but to declare their titles vacant.
Fury is also facing a hearing on November 4 after failing a steroid drugs test 18 months ago. He denies any wrongdoing.
But if he is found guilty and banned, it will increase the chances of him hanging up his gloves at just 28.
Daily Mail