Lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has given his thoughts to WBN on a possible fight between IBF title-holder Charles Martin and Anthony Joshua.
American Martin, 29, claimed Fury’s old belt against Vyacheslav Glazkov last month following the IBF’s decision to relieve the unified king of one of his straps.
Joshua opened talks this week to be the first challenger.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has been vocal in stating his desire to make the fight. It comes on the back of Martin’s manager Mike Borao informing WBN that an encounter with Joshua in London appeals to them.
Should tentative negotiations be successful, Martin v Joshua is penciled in for an April 9 date in London.
Despite apparent dialogue between both camps, Fury, 27, is highly skeptical that the contest will make it across the finish line. Fury sees Martin’s advisor Al Haymon favoring an in-house unification with WBC champion Deontay Wilder.
TYSON FURY to WBN
“Nothing’s done until it’s done. I don’t think the fight will happen, to be honest,” Tyson Fury exclusively told World Boxing News over the phone on Wednesday.
“I think Al Haymon will make the fight between Deontay Wilder and Charles Martin.
“Even though Wilder has to fight Alexander Povetkin, a unification with Martin comes before a mandatory, so that’s the fight that’s going to get made.
“It will be an all-American showdown in Las Vegas or something. Rather than sending Martin over to the UK for Joshua.
“I don’t see the fight happening. If it does, it does and it’s a good fight for both of them.
“Charles Martin will earn a good few quid because he’s got the title. Joshua has got the opportunity to get the belt he wants.”
Asked if it may be too early for 26-year-old Joshua following fifteen victories since turning pro, Fury replied: “Not really, no. If you’re good enough, you’re good enough, aren’t you?
“But it’s not really a title now anyway as it’s a paper title, the IBF. It wasn’t won, it was stripped from the lineal champion.
“But Eddie Hearn knows that if he can get Charles Martin’s belt, that sets up a massive fight between me and AJ,” he added.
Phil Jay is Editor of WBN. An Auxiliary member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Follow on Twitter @PhilDJay
