Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum has stated several times that he's not a fan of immediate rematches.
But full division unification, between heavyweight world champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, would require a two-fight agreement.
Before they can get in the ring. Joshua will have to defeat mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev on December 12 and Fury will have to win a yet to be finalized voluntary defense on December 5.
Arum, who represents Fury, said Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, stood firm on the agreement being a two-fight deal.
“When it was proposed to us on Fury’s side by Eddie, that’s what he proposed. A fight and a rematch,” Arum said on the Gary Newbon Sports Show.. “I’m against rematches, I just think that for example if Joshua beats Pulev and Fury fights Joshua, I really believe that Fury will take Joshua out in two or three rounds, if that long.
“And then so who wants to see a rematch? But if Eddie insists on that rematch provision to get the deal done, we would go along with it.”
Arum is not concerned with the recent legal threats from Deontay Wilder.
Fury stopped Wilder in seven rounds back in February. A trilogy fight was scheduled for the fall, but Fury and his handlers believe the rematch clause has expired.
Wilder, who believes the rematch clause is still valid, recently made allegations that Fury loaded his gloves in the February bout - and even made claims that former co-trainer Mark Breland may have spiked his water.
“People say crazy things in boxing,” Arum said. “Fury is out of a contract, doesn’t have to fight Wilder. That contract is over. If after the Anthony Joshua fights, if they occur, Fury wants to give Wilder a fight, that’s ok.
“But again, who wants to deal with Wilder? A guy saying all of these things and then he follows up the next day saying that he also believes that somebody drugged his water and blames his trainer Mark Breland for doing it? I mean isn't that preposterous?”
