Tyson Fury’s co-promoter Bob Arum believes that Anthony Joshua would make a mistake to take an immediate rematch against Oleksandr Usyk.
The 31-year-old Britain was defeated by his more experienced Ukrainian challenger on Saturday in what was ultimately a comfortable win for the 34-year-old.
Usyk and Joshua have a rematch clause which is almost certain to be enforced to set up a second fight in early 2022. Arum does not expect Joshua to be successful.
Speaking to IFL TV, he said: “I think Joshua would be well off if somehow he was able to take another couple of fights before the rematch with Usyk.”
The Top Rank promoter thinks Joshua should then negotiate for a deal to fight the winner of Usyk vs. Fury, assuming he retains his WBC belt.
“And if people were sensible, Joshua would work out an agreement if Tyson Fury is successful with Wilder, to allow Usyk to fight Tyson Fury and to have each fighter contractually agree in his next fight – whether it’s Usyk or Fury – to fight the winner," Arum continued.
"That’s sensible. But again, this is boxing and promoters with egos and fighters not making in my opinion the right decision but really making fights based on emotion."
Arum believes that Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn would not entertain such a delay.
"Eddie Hearn being Eddie Hearn, who is all ego, won’t listen to something that makes sense,” he claimed.
“He will push, in my opinion – which he can legally – the rematch with Usyk and that will be an additional defeat on Joshua’s record and prevent him from what I think would be a massive fight against the unified champion.
"Usyk fights Tyson Fury, or Wilder. And [Joshua] fights the winner. And then we’re into something that the public can make sense of. Now all eyes are going to be on Wilder-Fury, the winner of that fight will be accepted as the legitimate heavyweight champion – particularly should Joshua go right into an Usyk rematch, which I think is the wrong move for him."