Fury could have called Joshua out after the Whyte fight in Feb, when Joshua had no opponent lined up because Usyk was involved in the defence of his country, however Fury decided to "retire".
Even Arum said that this fight wouldn't be a good idea for Joshua after his recent loses as his confidence must be pretty low. However Fury and Warren probably knew that pride wouldn't allow Joshua to turn it down - it's very calculating of them to do this when AJ must be so lacking in confidence. However despite AJ's recent loses and Fury's bravado about knocking him out - Fury has insisted on a rematch clause - but as AJ is the challenger he doesn't get one of course.
I really hope the fight doesn't take place in the middle-east as UK fight fans have been waiting for this fight for a looong time and it'll be a much better event in the UK - but of course they may want to maximise the fighters' purses.
If the fight does take place in the UK I think a good alternative to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff would be The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London which also has a roof (where Joshua - Usyk 1 took place) - the Premier League will be suspended between Nov 13th and Dec 26th while the World Cup takes place in Qatar and so I can't see why the fight couldn't take place there.
Fury vs Usyk will happen in early 2023. They have agreed to the fight in principle. The reason he belatedly offered AJ was because Usyk could not meet their Dec dance.
Fury had not once mentioned Whyte as a potential opponent. Remember that he and Frank Warren were not pleased with Whyte's total lack of co-operation in their fight. Warren is not a guy you want to punch below the belt.
Just because Usyk can't fight until next year doesn't mean Fury had to pick Joshua as an opponent - there are plenty of other heavyweights he could have picked to stay busy - Charr has been calling Fury out for a while.
No - the reason Fury has offered Joshua the fight at this time is because Joshua has lost 3 out of 5 fights and his confidence must be low - fighters need confidence to fight at their best. Fury and Warren know this and they also knew that Joshua's pride probably wouldn't allow him to refuse the fight.
After the Whyte fight back in February, neither Fury nor Joshua had a fight lined up (Usyk defending his country), if Fury had any thoughts of fighting Joshua he could have said so then. Waiting until an opponent has been beaten twice in a row (lost 3 in 5) and must be low in confidence, before making an offer that you know he probably can't refuse is a pathetic trick but precisely what I'd expect from Fury, Arum & Warren.
As for Dillian Whyte, that was no punch below the belt to Warren - it was a punch below the belt to Whyte from Warren & Arum, who with the WBC forced Whyte to accept a pathetic 80:20 split.
The WBC changed their ruling on the split for mandatory challengers just before making Whyte the mandatory challenger for Fury - that was convenient wasn't it.
The fact is that the WBC wanted to make Whyte pay for taking them to the CAS, and Warren & Arum were happy to play along with the WBC. I don't blame Whyte for refusing to co-operate with Warren & Arum - it is the promoters and sanctioning bodies who are the biggest crooks in the sport not the fighters.
I don't follow their timelines closely, but I recall the following:
1. As Hearn said, TF and AJ agreed to their mega fight in Saudi in Aug 2021 before Wilder stepped in and forced a third biff with TF.
2. AJ then agreed to a mandatory defence against Usyk. AJ lost and he chose a rematch.
3. Putin intervened against the AJ Usyk rematch.
4. TF fought Whyte as a mandatory defence.
Why would AJ risk a lost and or injury whilst waiting for Usyk? There was never any whisper by either camp of a AJ/TF biff whilst waiting for Usyk. Those pros don't take such high-stake risks,
AJ's camp - Hearn - made one major strategic blunder by mouthing off that AJ will fight in Nov/Dec.
TF did a masterstroke of publicly disclosing generous or fair terms and the time, thus effectively forcing AJ to accept. Otherwise he would lose credibility and fans by not accepting the fair offer. If he had declined, his fans would want to know why not since he had planned to fight in Nov/Dec anyway and the terms are very fair. The terms that AJ got are the same as he gave/agreed with Usyk. Thus on the terms and time, AJ was cornered by TF. I suspect TF's offer to Chisora was a distraction. Proof? His coach for that match.
From TF's perspective, why fight for less when he could biff for more money and have bragging rights? Apart from Usyk, AJ is the only option for him. Apart from those big 4, the heavyweight division is quite thin. Charr???
Remember, AJ chickened out of a fight with Wilder. Only after AJ's rejection, despite Wilder agreeing to his demands, that he gave TF a go.
If AJ and DW agreed to a trilogy, I go for DW 3 zip upfront! There is no way AJ could withstand as many hits as TF and DW received.
Observe that AJ has lost to Ruiz and Usyk - and will lose to TF and DW. Proving DW's claim that AJ is a packaged champ; not a real one.
I looked into the pro boxing late; got into it after reading of TF after his first match with DW in the Australian media.
Re Whyte
I don't follow boxing that closely. However, contractually Whyte agreed to help promote the fight - which also would have gained him valuable publicity. Instead, he did not even want his pic to be used! He lost all public and media support for that.
Any one watching and reading about the sport would know that it is corrupt. Where there is much money, ...... As Wilder said, pro boxing is a business.
"Why would AJ risk a lost and or injury whilst waiting for Usyk?"
The point is that Joshua wasn't waiting for Usyk. Usyk had chosen to defend his country against the Russian invasion, nobody expected him to change his mind - Hearn said that Joshua would have to find a different opponent. The timelines are clear - back in February to late March Joshua and Fury didn't have opponents and if Fury wanted a Joshua fight he could and should have said so then - I would have had more respect for him.
The offer to Joshua is fair in terms of the finances however it's not fair in its timing with Joshua coming off two consecutive losses (3 loses in 5) - that's no better than refusing to fight an opponent but then changing your mind when they hit 40 - eh Canelo!
I don't know where you're getting your information from but it's not reliable and tbh you've gone a bit off the main topic in your post, but I'll address a couple of the points you make.
AJ didn't "chicken out" of a fight with Wilder - in fact Wilder admitted in a tweet to Fury that he had a higher offer from Hearn (to fight Joshua) but chose to take the first Fury fight instead. I suspect he did that because Fury had been out for a few years (due to being popped for Nandrolone) and Wilder thought Fury was an easy win - he was wrong, I think Fury won that fight.
As for the make believe $100M offer from Finkel & Haymon - everyone now accepts that it wasn't a valid offer as they wanted Joshua to sign to accept the offer without reading the contract - ridiculous.
You're entitled to your opinion about Joshua of course however I regard Wilder as the manufactured fighter - the only top fighters on his resume are Fury & Ortiz.
In fact it was Wilder refusing to fight Klitschko that allowed Joshua to step up and take his chance against Wlad and become a star.
Also Joshua's resume is much stronger than Wilder's and includes Whyte, Klitschko, Martin, Takam, Parker, Povetkin, Ruiz (twice), Pulev & Usyk (twice). This is a far better list of opponents than you'll find on Wilder's resume. Wilder is dangerous of course because of his right hand however he has little boxing ability.
As for Whyte - those who don't know the background to Whyte's case against the WBC are bound to criticise him. Yes, the public criticised him but they knew nothing about the background . Those of us who follow the sport can understand Whyte's attitude - anyone criticising Whyte when they know the background are siding with crooks like Sulaiman, Arum & Warren.
Notice Eddie Hearn's camp does not appear enthusiastic with the deal at all.
Fury already won round 1 by getting AJ to accept his terms and he has messed with Hearn's money making plans for AJ. We need to remember that Hearn had spoken about AJ fighting in Nov or Dec immediately after the Usyk's victory.
The question is: what will happen to AJ's head and brand once he lost three in a row?
Fury's taken this fight after Usyk says he wont fight til February/March 2023. After Wilder won the court case for the trilogy AJ fought Usyk and had a rematch in the cobn++ntract but at least its happening now.
This is a really exciting fight. I think Fury has a decided edge l, but the two losses to Usik matter not one whit in this fight imho. This is a completely different style of fight, and styles make fights. Should be a barn burner!
I take your point about styles however losing 3 in 5 fights won't have helped Joshua's confidence going into a fight against supposedly the best in the heavyweight division. Fighters need confidence in order to perform at their best.
Fury & Warren have been very calculating here - they know AJ would have preferred to get a couple of winning fights under his belt however they also knew his pride probably wouldn't let him refuse the fight.
Hey, Brits, help me out here. How is it that England, a country pretty widely known for its less-than-ideal weather, doesn’t have a big ass stadium with a retractable roof?
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London has a roof but the capacity is only about 62,000 - it's where the first Joshua - Usyk fight took place.
I think they could have it there as the Premier League is suspended between Nov 13th and Dec 26th for the World Cup in Qatar. I think it's a nicer stadium than the one in Cardiff - it's brand new.
I think boxing should have its own large indoor stadium in the UK as big fights like these usually have to wait until the Spring/Summer.
Well they are essentially the same but I think the new Spurs' stadium has newer and better amenities and London is probably easier for most people to get to than South Wales.
Apparently Spurs' stadium has a glass roof and there are organised walks across it - not when football or boxing is on though - too high for me :-).
TBH I don't go to large stadium fights anymore as you end up watching the screens unless you can afford to be ringside - may as well watch it on tv.
Fury could have called Joshua out after the Whyte fight in Feb, when Joshua had no opponent lined up because Usyk was involved in the defence of his country, however Fury decided to "retire".
Even Arum said that this fight wouldn't be a good idea for Joshua after his recent loses as his confidence must be pretty low. However Fury and Warren probably knew that pride wouldn't allow Joshua to turn it down - it's very calculating of them to do this when AJ must be so lacking in confidence. However despite AJ's recent loses and Fury's bravado about knocking him out - Fury has insisted on a rematch clause - but as AJ is the challenger he doesn't get one of course.
I really hope the fight doesn't take place in the middle-east as UK fight fans have been waiting for this fight for a looong time and it'll be a much better event in the UK - but of course they may want to maximise the fighters' purses.
If the fight does take place in the UK I think a good alternative to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff would be The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London which also has a roof (where Joshua - Usyk 1 took place) - the Premier League will be suspended between Nov 13th and Dec 26th while the World Cup takes place in Qatar and so I can't see why the fight couldn't take place there.
Fury vs Usyk will happen in early 2023. They have agreed to the fight in principle. The reason he belatedly offered AJ was because Usyk could not meet their Dec dance.
Fury had not once mentioned Whyte as a potential opponent. Remember that he and Frank Warren were not pleased with Whyte's total lack of co-operation in their fight. Warren is not a guy you want to punch below the belt.
Just because Usyk can't fight until next year doesn't mean Fury had to pick Joshua as an opponent - there are plenty of other heavyweights he could have picked to stay busy - Charr has been calling Fury out for a while.
No - the reason Fury has offered Joshua the fight at this time is because Joshua has lost 3 out of 5 fights and his confidence must be low - fighters need confidence to fight at their best. Fury and Warren know this and they also knew that Joshua's pride probably wouldn't allow him to refuse the fight.
After the Whyte fight back in February, neither Fury nor Joshua had a fight lined up (Usyk defending his country), if Fury had any thoughts of fighting Joshua he could have said so then. Waiting until an opponent has been beaten twice in a row (lost 3 in 5) and must be low in confidence, before making an offer that you know he probably can't refuse is a pathetic trick but precisely what I'd expect from Fury, Arum & Warren.
As for Dillian Whyte, that was no punch below the belt to Warren - it was a punch below the belt to Whyte from Warren & Arum, who with the WBC forced Whyte to accept a pathetic 80:20 split.
The WBC changed their ruling on the split for mandatory challengers just before making Whyte the mandatory challenger for Fury - that was convenient wasn't it.
The fact is that the WBC wanted to make Whyte pay for taking them to the CAS, and Warren & Arum were happy to play along with the WBC. I don't blame Whyte for refusing to co-operate with Warren & Arum - it is the promoters and sanctioning bodies who are the biggest crooks in the sport not the fighters.
I don't follow their timelines closely, but I recall the following:
1. As Hearn said, TF and AJ agreed to their mega fight in Saudi in Aug 2021 before Wilder stepped in and forced a third biff with TF.
2. AJ then agreed to a mandatory defence against Usyk. AJ lost and he chose a rematch.
3. Putin intervened against the AJ Usyk rematch.
4. TF fought Whyte as a mandatory defence.
Why would AJ risk a lost and or injury whilst waiting for Usyk? There was never any whisper by either camp of a AJ/TF biff whilst waiting for Usyk. Those pros don't take such high-stake risks,
AJ's camp - Hearn - made one major strategic blunder by mouthing off that AJ will fight in Nov/Dec.
TF did a masterstroke of publicly disclosing generous or fair terms and the time, thus effectively forcing AJ to accept. Otherwise he would lose credibility and fans by not accepting the fair offer. If he had declined, his fans would want to know why not since he had planned to fight in Nov/Dec anyway and the terms are very fair. The terms that AJ got are the same as he gave/agreed with Usyk. Thus on the terms and time, AJ was cornered by TF. I suspect TF's offer to Chisora was a distraction. Proof? His coach for that match.
From TF's perspective, why fight for less when he could biff for more money and have bragging rights? Apart from Usyk, AJ is the only option for him. Apart from those big 4, the heavyweight division is quite thin. Charr???
Remember, AJ chickened out of a fight with Wilder. Only after AJ's rejection, despite Wilder agreeing to his demands, that he gave TF a go.
If AJ and DW agreed to a trilogy, I go for DW 3 zip upfront! There is no way AJ could withstand as many hits as TF and DW received.
Observe that AJ has lost to Ruiz and Usyk - and will lose to TF and DW. Proving DW's claim that AJ is a packaged champ; not a real one.
I looked into the pro boxing late; got into it after reading of TF after his first match with DW in the Australian media.
Re Whyte
I don't follow boxing that closely. However, contractually Whyte agreed to help promote the fight - which also would have gained him valuable publicity. Instead, he did not even want his pic to be used! He lost all public and media support for that.
Any one watching and reading about the sport would know that it is corrupt. Where there is much money, ...... As Wilder said, pro boxing is a business.
"Why would AJ risk a lost and or injury whilst waiting for Usyk?"
The point is that Joshua wasn't waiting for Usyk. Usyk had chosen to defend his country against the Russian invasion, nobody expected him to change his mind - Hearn said that Joshua would have to find a different opponent. The timelines are clear - back in February to late March Joshua and Fury didn't have opponents and if Fury wanted a Joshua fight he could and should have said so then - I would have had more respect for him.
The offer to Joshua is fair in terms of the finances however it's not fair in its timing with Joshua coming off two consecutive losses (3 loses in 5) - that's no better than refusing to fight an opponent but then changing your mind when they hit 40 - eh Canelo!
I don't know where you're getting your information from but it's not reliable and tbh you've gone a bit off the main topic in your post, but I'll address a couple of the points you make.
AJ didn't "chicken out" of a fight with Wilder - in fact Wilder admitted in a tweet to Fury that he had a higher offer from Hearn (to fight Joshua) but chose to take the first Fury fight instead. I suspect he did that because Fury had been out for a few years (due to being popped for Nandrolone) and Wilder thought Fury was an easy win - he was wrong, I think Fury won that fight.
As for the make believe $100M offer from Finkel & Haymon - everyone now accepts that it wasn't a valid offer as they wanted Joshua to sign to accept the offer without reading the contract - ridiculous.
You're entitled to your opinion about Joshua of course however I regard Wilder as the manufactured fighter - the only top fighters on his resume are Fury & Ortiz.
In fact it was Wilder refusing to fight Klitschko that allowed Joshua to step up and take his chance against Wlad and become a star.
Also Joshua's resume is much stronger than Wilder's and includes Whyte, Klitschko, Martin, Takam, Parker, Povetkin, Ruiz (twice), Pulev & Usyk (twice). This is a far better list of opponents than you'll find on Wilder's resume. Wilder is dangerous of course because of his right hand however he has little boxing ability.
As for Whyte - those who don't know the background to Whyte's case against the WBC are bound to criticise him. Yes, the public criticised him but they knew nothing about the background . Those of us who follow the sport can understand Whyte's attitude - anyone criticising Whyte when they know the background are siding with crooks like Sulaiman, Arum & Warren.
Thanks for your time.
Enjoy their biff.
Notice Eddie Hearn's camp does not appear enthusiastic with the deal at all.
Fury already won round 1 by getting AJ to accept his terms and he has messed with Hearn's money making plans for AJ. We need to remember that Hearn had spoken about AJ fighting in Nov or Dec immediately after the Usyk's victory.
The question is: what will happen to AJ's head and brand once he lost three in a row?
Fury's taken this fight after Usyk says he wont fight til February/March 2023. After Wilder won the court case for the trilogy AJ fought Usyk and had a rematch in the cobn++ntract but at least its happening now.
This is a really exciting fight. I think Fury has a decided edge l, but the two losses to Usik matter not one whit in this fight imho. This is a completely different style of fight, and styles make fights. Should be a barn burner!
I take your point about styles however losing 3 in 5 fights won't have helped Joshua's confidence going into a fight against supposedly the best in the heavyweight division. Fighters need confidence in order to perform at their best.
Fury & Warren have been very calculating here - they know AJ would have preferred to get a couple of winning fights under his belt however they also knew his pride probably wouldn't let him refuse the fight.
Hey, Brits, help me out here. How is it that England, a country pretty widely known for its less-than-ideal weather, doesn’t have a big ass stadium with a retractable roof?
80,000 sounds like a pretty big assed stadium to me!
Yeah, but it’s in Wales, not England.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London has a roof but the capacity is only about 62,000 - it's where the first Joshua - Usyk fight took place.
I think they could have it there as the Premier League is suspended between Nov 13th and Dec 26th for the World Cup in Qatar. I think it's a nicer stadium than the one in Cardiff - it's brand new.
I think boxing should have its own large indoor stadium in the UK as big fights like these usually have to wait until the Spring/Summer.
What is the difference since they look and sound alike?
Well they are essentially the same but I think the new Spurs' stadium has newer and better amenities and London is probably easier for most people to get to than South Wales.
Apparently Spurs' stadium has a glass roof and there are organised walks across it - not when football or boxing is on though - too high for me :-).
TBH I don't go to large stadium fights anymore as you end up watching the screens unless you can afford to be ringside - may as well watch it on tv.