Tyson Fury took to his social media accounts Thursday to once again implore Anthony Joshua to sign the contract to make their super fight happen.
A tentative date of Dec. 3, with Cardiff’s Principality Stadium being the early favorite as the venue, has been tossed around in what would be one of the biggest fights in British boxing history and heavyweight boxing, period.
Such a bout would give Joshua the international platform to rebound from back-to-back losses to unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and become a three-time heavyweight champ if he can somehow figure out the complex puzzle that is the “Gypsy King,” the reigning WBC titleholder.
Fury claims that all terms are contractually set and that only Joshua’s signature is needed to secure the mega bout. But given boxing’s history of contract negotiations that go awry, there’s always a chance of a fight falling through.
If the latter transpires for any reason, Joshua might want to revisit a familiar foe — none other than Dillian Whyte.
Joshua produced a seventh-round TKO of Whyte in December 2015, overcoming getting wobbled earlier in the fight to get the stoppage.
For what it’s worth, Whyte is willing to lend his services in a rematch against “AJ” if the proposed Fury-Joshua fight doesn’t pan out.
"If the Fury fight doesn't get made with him and Joshua, me and Joshua can fight in December if he wants," Whyte recently told Sky Sports. "He's training for it. He's ready for it. He's willing to take Fury on, so if that fight doesn't get made, I'll step up and take the fight with Joshua."
While nothing could top a Fury-Joshua fight in magnitude, Whyte would be a viable option as a backup plan and one that could carry positives for Joshua.
Such a rematch would give Joshua, who turns 33 on Oct. 15, the opportunity to boost his confidence following consecutive, hard-fought defeats to Usyk, including the split-decision awarded to the Ukrainian in August.
It would also empower Joshua with a measuring stick challenge, considering Fury knocked Whyte out in six rounds back in April. Could he finish Whyte in less?
Such a route would also perhaps set up a rebuilt Joshua to challenge Fury at some point next year without the mad rush of a short turnaround.
Listen, I want to see Fury vs. Joshua like anyone else, and the next few days could definitively decide whether Fury vs. Joshua happens in December.
But if it doesn’t happen in December, who says it can’t be made in 2023? The latter scenario wouldn’t take anything away from the bout being a super fight at all.
If anything, it would give Joshua the chance to enter the fight with a win under his belt.