ANTHONY JOSHUA is considering a PS15million offer to reduce his heavyweight title workload by half. However, it comes with serious pitfalls.
The 32-year old Watford ace has no of the four major titles. Oleksandr Usyk robbed him in September for the WBA and IBF belts. He also doesn't have a head trainer to guide his efforts at rematch revenge.
Oleksandr Usyk after beating Anthony Joshua
He can accept the stepaside deal to allow Tyson Fury (33-year-old WBC king) to meet the 35 year-old Ukraine southpaw and have a shot at winning the title and holding all four belts.
Although it sounds easy, Fury's US promoter Bob Arum called the situation 'total Chaos'. Most notably, fellow Londoner Dillian Whyte has been waiting for his mandatory shot at WBC crown that Usyk and AJ desire.
There are many other stumblingblocks that could make it impossible to win the most lucrative fight ever.
CHAMP IS INJURED
Boxing terms Fury and Usyk are close to the end of their remarkable careers.
It would almost be impossible to insure against a career-threatening injury or cut if the winner.
Fury sustained a 47-stitch injury to his right eye during his 2019 bloodbath victory over Otto Wallin. Any similar incident - even in another win - could delay or kybosh any future fight.
Usyk had a career-best performance in the match against AJ, but has previously suffered from a shoulder injury.
A 12-round war with a monster 6ft 9in man could end up costing you your life.
All the contracts in the universe could not stop a doctor stating that a man cannot compete. This could cause Joshua to lose all four titles and send him back to square one.
DILLIAN WHYTE
The two rivals are not only able to win two fights in the ring - Whyte winning their amateur match and AJ winning their 2015 pro barnstormer – but they also have the chance to compete for the WBC title.
Whyte has been offered a PS5million to allow Fury vs Usyk to take place. But he will also need a legally binding shot to the crown he has chased ever since 2017.
Even though Joshua and Whyte have agreed to split the PS20million, their bank managers are beaming. But how will they decide who gets the first shot at the winner?
THE DRAW
Imagine sitting on the sidelines for one year, with the winner of Fury Vs Usyk guaranteed, and then drawing!
It was a 33-1 chance that it would happen in Fury's first encounter with Deontay wilder, and the odds of this happening were even lower when Usyk and Fury meet for the highest stakes.
A rematch would be required, which would be a catastrophe for AJ's plans.
AJ'S SPARE TIMES
Joshua will soon appoint a head trainer and jumping into the biggest fight in his life without any test seems risky and unlikely.
He may let Fury and Usyk do the dance, but it is more likely that he will take a keep-warm fight with his new cornerman to learn how to adapt and test their chemistry.
AJ's exciting and high-profile style will make it difficult for him to fight a no-hoper. His 2019 stoppage loss against the chubby Mexican underdog Andy Ruiz Jr will forever leave him vulnerable in certain courts.
AJ will need to win his 27th professional fight in style. He will also have to work in perfect harmony with the new trainer, who will be tasked to devise a plan to defeat a switch hitter (6ft 9in) or a genius southpaw (or both) in a very short time.
THE CHAMP RETIRES
Fury could be unbeaten if he wins all four heavyweight World Tiles.
A 35-year old devout man like Usyk, who has an Olympic gold medal and every cruiserweight belt in the locker, could claim the greatest prize in sports without losing a single one.
This would mean that their four belts would be distributed as sanctioning bodies create new champions using their own ranking systems.
It seems like it is now or never.
It will be necessary to create a contract that is stipulative to prevent the winner of this legendary fight from resigning.
To enforce this demand, you can inflict a huge fine on anyone who attempts to leave the sport without Joshua's blessing.
