For a brief spell on Monday, boxing fans and media alike had their hopes up that a fight between Joshua and Wilder could finally get over the line.
Wilder advisor Shelly Finkel had informed WBN that a contract would be sent back to Matchroom Boxing by Friday, leading to real excitement at the prospect of Joshua facing Wilder in the United Kingdom this year.
Within twelve hours, those dreams were dashed as the WBA swooped in to inform Joshua he would lose his title if he waited for Finkel’s reply with the paperwork.
A hammer blow to a delicate deal that had already been hanging in the balance for weeks.
World Boxing Association President Gilberto Mendoza gave Joshua the perfect opportunity to leave Wilder behind and plow on with an already-planned mandatory contest against Povetkin.
Fury has now offered to step in, stating it wouldn’t take him 10 seconds to sign a contract to face Wilder. There’s one problem, though.
‘The Gypsy King’ is not ranked by the WBC and would need to defeat someone in the Top 15 in order to gain his place.
Wilder only has the option of now pursuing a fight with Fury after he’s dealt his own mandatory in Dominic Breazeale, provided Fury meets the ranking criteria by then or the returning former ruler picks up the WBA ‘regular’ strap currently in possession of Manuel Charr.
