ANTHONY JOSHUA has been urged by Tyson Fury’s promoter to step aside from his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk to allow for an undisputed title fight.
It would see Fury, should he beat Deontay Wilder on October 9, then face Usyk for all the heavyweight belts.
Meanwhile, Joshua could keep busy with an interim fight while being contractually promised the winner between Fury and Usyk.
Bob Arum told iFL TV: “I think Joshua would be well off if somehow we was able to take another couple of fights before the rematch with Usyk.
“If people were sensible, Joshua would work out an agreement, if Tyson Fury is successful with Wilder, to allow Usyk to fight Tyson Fury.
“And to have each fighter contractually agree in his next fight, whether it’s Usyk or Tyson Fury, again should Tyson Fury beat Wilder, to fight [Joshua].
“That’s sensible, but again, this is boxing and promoters with egos and fighters not making, in my opinion, the correct decision.
“But really making fights based on emotion.”
Fury, 33, tried a similar trick after he entered talks to fight Joshua, 31, in the summer, all while Deontay Wilder, 35, was owed a rematch.
Eventually, a US arbitrator ruled in favour of Wilder, who was beaten by the Gypsy King in 2020 but contracted to a trilogy bout.
They are now set to fight next month, while Joshua is made to plot revenge after surrendering the unified belts to Usyk, 34.
AJ has already confirmed plans to exercise his right to an immediate rematch, much like he did against Andy Ruiz Jr, 32, in 2019.
But Arum has accused rival promoter Eddie Hearn of being short sighted by not allowing Usyk to unify the division and wait it out to face the winner.
He said: “Eddie Hearn being Eddie Hearn, was all ego, won’t listen to something that makes sense.
“He will push, in my opinion, which he can legally, the rematch with Usyk and that will be an additional defeat on Joshua’s record.
“And prevent him from what I think will be a massive fight, and the way it should be against the unified champion.
“Usyk fights Tyson Fury – or Wilder – and [Joshua] fight the winner. Then we’re into something that the public can make sense of.”
