Boxing’s Battle of Britain moves a step closer

There has not been a great deal of cheer within the boxing community of late as, just like so many other disciplines, it has been dealt a crushing blow by the coronavirus pandemic. With a lack of action, NJ sports betting states they have been left rather inactive.

However, any promoter worth their salt will know how to adapt to the current climate, and with the likes of Eddie Hearn and Bob Arum already planning, it does seem as if the ‘Sweet Science’ will be able to get back up from the canvas relatively soon.

Especially if fans of the sport are given some big-name fights to look forward to and, it is fair to say that right now, it does not get much bigger than the quest to dominate the Heavyweight division once and for all.

Fans around the world are getting excited about who will win the big fight. That keenly anticipated contest is looking more likely because a deal has been agreed ‘in principle’ for the British pair of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to finally meet in the ring.

There have always been suggestions that either party is ducking the other, and although there may have been some truth to that in the past, perhaps the current global climate has finally let cooler heads prevail.

There is quite simply too much money involved for them not to square off, and although the deal has been agreed, there are still a couple of hurdles that need to be cleared and other hurdles that certainly should not be overlooked either.

In terms of the final steps that need to be taken for the first of two mega-fights to take place, the 30-year-old Joshua must first defend his litany of title belts against the mandatory IBF challenger Kubrat Pulev.

On paper, Joshua has the easiest stepping stone to overcome and will be the resounding favorite when going up against a Bulgarian boxer who currently possesses an impressive record of 28-1. (14 KOs)

Then again, the Watford-born fighter found himself in a similar situation against Andy Ruiz Jr. Although the Mexican took a title shot at incredibly short notice, he stunned the world by handing the Olympic Gold medalist his first-ever professional defeat.

That means that Joshua will not be looking past the challenge that Pulev will offer and only if he can get the better of him, will the first of two ‘Battles of Britain’ move a substantial step closer to being signed off.

However, any fight needs two protagonists, and for the current WBC Heavyweight Champion to put his name on the dotted line, he must first deal with a nemesis that is looking for his shot at revenge.

Deontay Wilder may have been somewhat fortunate to escape with the WBC belt still in his possession when he first went up against the Manchester-based Fury. Were it not for a 12th round knockdown, the ‘Bronze Bomber’ would have lost his perfect winning record.

Many felt that ‘Wilder vs. Fury I’ should have gone the way of the ‘Gypsy King,’ and therefore, a score was certainly settled when the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, played host to the sequel in February of this year.

That was the night in which Fury rightfully claimed what he felt was already his, and by toppling Wilder, his own incredible story of redemption was one that subsequently wrote its most important chapter.

Of course, with a new champion being installed, it also offers up the potential for a rematch. With the third and final leg of this recent trilogy earmarked for the end of 2020, the biggest ever clash in British boxing is nowhere near a done deal.

Some will suggest that Wilder was outclassed in both of the first two fights and doesn’t deserve another opportunity, with the consensus being that he should step aside and make negotiations far simpler.

Then again, no one can doubt the confidence that the current WBC champion exudes. If he has been undefeated twice already, there is nothing to suggest that he will be unlucky the third time around – something that even the members of the Anthony Joshua camp hope he avoids.

With a deal being tantalizingly close and, more importantly, the ability to finally crown an undisputed Heavyweight as the king, this is the fight that boxing fans deserve to see. Although they’ve had to wait a long time, it will undoubtedly be worth it in the end.