With IBF heavyweight ruler Anthony Joshua having vacated the British title he won just this past December in a thrilling battle with Dillian Whyte, the British Boxing Board have called for Whyte to face unbeaten Hughie Fury to decide the vacant title. In a brief interview with Sky Sports, Board chairman Robert Smith said the fight will go to purse bids if no deal can be reached between the two fighters and their teams in the meantime:
“The purse bids are due on June 8, however, they have between now and June 8 to negotiate the private deal if they wish,” Smith said today.
There is a good chance Both Whyte, 16-1(13) and Fury, 20-0(10) will want the fight, as it is an excellent match-up, one both men will believe they can win. So maybe purse bids will not be required. First though, Whyte will box a return fight after having undergone the shoulder surgery that was needed after he sustained an injury in the stoppage loss to Joshua (A.J’s toughest test yet, the fight ending in the 7th-round, this after Joshua was badly stunned by a cracking left hook in the early going). Whyte will likely box a TBA on the Joshua-Dominic Breazeale card on June 25th. While Fury, if the nasty cut he picked up in his April 30th win over Fred Kassi has healed, will box a TBA on the card of his cousin, Tyson Fury’s July 9th rematch with Wladimir Klitschko.
By then we will know if the two are ready and willing to face one another for the British belt (the Board have also ordered elimination bouts for the British title, between Dave Allen and Sam Sexton and Gary Cornish and Ian Lewison, in case Whyte and Fury do not agree to fight). It is hoped the two do meet, as it has the makings of a very good fight. Whyte can bang, while Fury has fine boxing skills. This prospective boxer Vs. puncher showdown might even bring back some of the prestige the British heavyweight title, and the fights to decide it, once had.
Back in the day, it was a big deal to challenge for the British crown; an even bigger deal to wear it. Classics from yesteryear that captivated the British fans include Henry Cooper-Joe Bugner, Gary Mason-Lennox Lewis, Danny Williams-Mark Potter and, more recently, that Joshua-Whyte shootout. Whyte-Fury has the look of a 50-50 fight and the winner would only solidify his credentials as a future European or even world title challenger.