Major Heavyweight Trouble: Two Superfights in August, Significant Rematch in September, Fury and Wilder Offside for Now, Under Threat – Saudi Arabia Show

August promises to be one of the hottest boxing months of the year, giving, we hope, two bright fights in which four boxers from the TOP-5 of the heavyweight division will find out the relationship. On August 12, Anthony Joshua will face Dillian Whyte in the ring, and on August 26, Oleksandr Usyk will fight Daniel Dubois.

Of the top heavyweights, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder have been named as part of what could be the biggest boxing night in heavyweight division history scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in December. In addition to the Gypsy King and the Bronze Bomber, Mustache and Joshua should participate in it. Given the August fights, it is possible that plans will have to be revised.

Fury and Wilder are in no rush

Let’s start with reigning WBC champion Tyson Fury and former title holder Deontay Wilder. Fury, after the breakdown of the fight with Usyk, promises to announce a very high-profile fight almost every week, there are active rumors about a possible fight with former UFC star Francis Ngannou. Wilder does without loud statements, claiming that he is waiting for a serious offer and periodically challenges Usyk to a fight.

Both fought relatively recently. Fury defeated Chisora ​​last December, Wilder defeated Helenius two months earlier. The downtime of the first is almost seven months, the second did not enter the ring for nine months. Both have had longer pauses in their careers, but if they plan to take part in the “super heavyweight evening”, then it seems that a warm-up-preparatory fight for each of them would not hurt.

If they agree to fights, then, I think, they are unlikely to be serious opponents. Firstly, possible fights – for Fury it is a fight with Usyk, for Wilder a meeting in the ring with Joshua – can bring serious fame and money to risk. Secondly, of the truly top fighters in the division, only Andy Ruiz is now free, but here it’s already a question of the desire of the latter.

But the events of August may spur Fury and Wilder to take more decisive steps. We are talking about the possible outcomes of the Usyk-Dubois and Joshua-White fights.

Joshua took the risk

First of all, we are talking about Anthony Joshua. We must pay tribute to the Briton – after crushing defeats from Usyk, he did not return confidence with fights with frank sacks, although, hand on heart, Jermain Franklin cannot really be called a top, agreeing to a principled and very dangerous fight.

White is a really difficult opponent and, most importantly, stylistically uncomfortable for Joshua. Dillian, not possessing an enviable technique, boldly goes into the wheelhouse, likes to push and put pressure. In principle, even in their first fight, which took place seven and a half years ago, White caused serious problems for Joshua, despite the early defeat.

Plus, White is hungry for titles and money, and Joshua considers his most principled opponent. “I’m going to take AJ’s money and fame,” White says, and it seems these words are not far from the truth.

At any other time, White would no doubt have been the number one fighter in Britain, but he was unfortunate enough to be in the era of Fury and Joshua. Both, by the way, he lost ahead of schedule. If Dillian loses to Anthony for the second time, he risks becoming the second Chisora ​​- a serious, respected boxer, but who gets a chance for a title fight only in the absence of champions of other options.

As for Joshua, who agreed to remove the rematch clause from his contract, given Anthony’s mentality, it looks like a loss to White will definitely force him to end his career. Even despite the remaining contract with DAZN at least one fight.

Challenge for Usyk

A difficult task will also have to be solved by Oleksandr Usyk, who, after the breakdown of the fight with Fury, began to make mandatory defenses of his titles. Dubois, 25, is a new hope and potential superstar in British boxing. He was promised the title of Olympic champion, but he did not want to waste time in the amateurs, having already gone pro at the age of 19. In six years, with the exception of Joe Joyce, to whom he lost, and, possibly, Trevor Bryan, Daniel did not have significant opponents, but the British record of 18 knockouts in 19 fights is still impressive.

The danger of Dubois for Usyk is the same as that of White for Joshua: physical strength, hunger for victories and money. Plus, a good amateur school and the status of the main prospect of the division, on the side of which the sympathy of promoters, sponsors and, possibly, judges.

Not very loud but very important fight

It’s about the planned rematch between Joe Joyce and Zhang Zhilei. Three months ago, the Chinese made a splash when he managed to take away the interim WBO belt from Joyce, closing the defeat to Hrgovic. Yes, the victory was obtained by a “doctoral decision”, but this certainly does not detract from Zhang’s merits.

If the 40-year-old Zhilei wins a second time, then Joyce, who quickly broke into the elite of the division after defeating Dubois (Joe secured it with early wins against the strong Takam, Parker and Hammer), will also quickly leave it. At the same time, the Chinese heavyweight himself, given his age and style of fighting, is unlikely to be able to claim something grandiose, but he can still get one or more title fights.

If Joyce takes revenge, then, most likely, it will be Usyk’s next opponent in case the Ukrainian wins against Dubois and another disruption of the fight with Fury. First, and the status will oblige. Secondly, British boxers are the favorite opponents of the Ukrainian. And with the organization of the fight with Joyce, given the experience and connections, Usyk’s promoters will have no problems.