Fury vs Joshua: Now Or Never

Fury vs Joshua: Now Or Never

Boxing is rarely ever simple. In truth, it is anything but. But it would seem finally, at least for one fight, one night, it just might be. A temporary relief from the frustrations of boxing normality until normal service is resumed.

The news that Anthony Joshua has accepted terms to fight Tyson Fury in December is welcomed, albeit with some degree of caution. History tells us that caution is warranted. And very much so.

We’ve been here before, Fury vs Joshua is one of those fights that is seemingly forever talked about, a fantasy fight that looked like for many a reason it would never ever happen. We’ve been close, remember only a court judgement denied us last year. But finally, free from any remaining legal or mandatory issues, the fight looks like happening. Or so we hope.

The heavyweight division always has a touch of much fragility about it when trying to make long-term plans. With much uncertainty about in a division where one punch can change everything. And with a two-fight a year schedule, and then throw in the tiresome and often unnecessary rematch clauses, it might be a case of now or never if we are ever to see the two best British heavyweights of their generation share a ring together.

It might not be the fight it could have been. The recent defeats of Joshua do reduce the magnitude and the importance of it somewhat. But make no mistake, it is almost certainly the biggest fight in boxing right now. It is wrong to say it, but it is far bigger than even the undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk. Money talks. With Fury and Joshua it is deafening. The WBC bauble which Fury holds, is a minor irrelevance.

There was much scepticism when Fury initially suggested the all-British heavyweight blockbuster, an high stakes game of call my bluff some would say. But when Usyk announced his unavailability for the undisputed fight with Fury, Joshua, despite his recent defeats to Usyk, was always a likely beneficiary.

The timing of the fight looks highly favourable to Fury. But Joshua will head into the fight with nothing to lose. He will largely be expected to suffer a third consecutive defeat. But Joshua has enough tools in his arsenal to win. The odds are most certainly against him, but it is by no means mission impossible. I’m far from convinced Joshua will win. But he’s not without hope.

We live in hope that that the positive signs of today don’t give way to the usual tsunami of excuses and blame if the fight breaks down when the devil in the detail becomes more visible. Even this old cynic is hopeful. And trust me, that is saying something.