Negotiations are currently coming down the final stretch to make a highly anticipated rematch between WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury for either New York or Las Vegas this May or June most likely.
As things stand, current three belt holding heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is still without an opponent next up for his first fight of 2019 but consensus now believes it will be against American heavyweight prospect Jarrell Miller in the US.
Last year Joshua vowed to keep his fights in the UK where he sells out stadiums but fighting Miller in the US represents a swift change in that mindset.
What’s changed since then?
Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury’s fight last month in LA capturing the sporting world’s imagination after a dramatic fight that ultimately ended in a controversial draw.
That’s what.
Time waits for no man as they say and if Joshua is to face Miller next in the US, a bout that really won’t inspire huge excitement from boxing fans, Wilder and Fury on the other hand are only going to march on with their stars as they provide fans with a fight they want to see once again.
Yes, us boxing fans are a demanding bunch but without boxing fans there is no professional sport.
Joshua has had an amazing career to date and achieved so much in a short space of time but the time has now come to see him in their with Wilder or Fury by the end of this year.
Fight fans power everything and the success boxing has experienced in recent years has been largely built on the back of fans getting the fights they want but crucially — when they want them.
It’s vital that this pressure is kept up to see the best three heavyweight fighters in the world continue to fight it out to see who really is the number one heavyweight in the world.
Fury and Wilder have now put themselves at the front of the queue in terms of fan interest in the heavyweight division after their last fight and combined between them — will certainly pass by Joshua in the US market specifically after their next fight if it is Miller for Joshua next up.
Yes, Joshua is big in the UK but Wilder and Fury combined are bigger in the US after their last fight and will surpass him in the US (combined) if things play out how they are at the moment.
The winner of Wilder vs Fury could easily demand a 50/50 split to face Joshua later in the year if they win in impressive fashion.
Particularly if the fight is in the US when it does eventually happen.
