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THE WBC remain committed to paving the way for Anthony Joshua to fight the winner of the Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury title fight.
Former lineal champion Fury boxes WBC heavyweight titlist Wilder on December 1 in Los Angeles. After that contest the clamour to see a clash for the undisputed crown with Anthony Joshua, who holds the WBA, WBO and IBF titles, will only grow.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told Boxing News, “The WBC convention was very clear in terms of looking for the ultimate goal [for] the winner of the fight to do the fight with Anthony Joshua. Our ruling was clear to state that if that fight is to proceed, to go in that direction then the mandatory [situation] will be solved. That’s been clear and that’s been put on paper in black and white.”
“Because that’s our obligation, we have to support it. That is a fight the world wants to see. However Wilder-Fury is a major fight in itself. That fight is as big as any fight. I’m very happy at the moment we’re going through in the heavyweight division,” he continued.
If however a fight between Joshua and the Wilder-Fury victor cannot be made, then Dominic Breazeale, a 2016 Joshua victim, is waiting in the wings to eventually challenge for the WBC heavyweight title. Sulaiman confirmed, “He’s the mandatory contender, that came from a situation from [Luis] Ortiz being with the Clean Boxing programme testing positive, the fight against Wilder failed. In order to save a major event the WBC mediated to have [Bermane] Stiverne fight Wilder, Breazeale had a signed contract for a final eliminator so he fought [Eric] Molina. So that’s what it is. As I saw the records are open and clear. He has been inactive but he has been inactive due to the WBC’s 2018 commitment to trying to make Wilder-Joshua. He accepted that. So we cannot go against and hurt him for being honourable. He said I understand, it’s a great, big fight and they were negotiating for a long time and it didn’t materialise. Breazeale is fighting in December to be active and we’ll see what happens. After December 1 many doors will be opened.”
The WBC president hailed the vibrant state of the heavyweight division and the state of the sport at the moment, particularly in the UK. “Dillian Whyte-[Dereck] Chisora that’s a major fight. You have Ortiz, you have Breazeale who’s a top fighter. The two champions Wilder and Joshua,” Sulaiman said.
“It’s an era, it’s booming. Boxing was born in England 300 years ago. It went on, moved to other countries, now it’s a global sport for one century or more. But what we’re going through this year is simply unexpected. It’s through the hard work of individuals and groups and I’m just proud and happy to see it. It was long due. The British fans deserve what they’re getting. It’s the most loyal fanbase, it’s the most knowledgeable fanbase. Because you find boxing fans in many other countries that only care for the big fights and go to Las Vegas and gamble and have fun and part of that is going to a fight. Here it’s different. There are real boxing fans, 24/7, 365 days a year.”
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