Comments Thread For: Anthony Joshua Waiting on Verdict From IBF Before Choosing September Foe

[champion4ever]

If Dubois is willing to take a step aside fee and is promised the winner between Usyk and Fury; Then I cannot see a problem.

[Boxviewer]

Number 1 is rematching number 2.

Joshua at number 3 will fight one of the guys ranked at 4, 5 or 6. Before another shot at the top 2 again if he's successful.

And the first couple of posts criticise him. If anyone is new here, yes it's always like this.

If Usyk beats Fury again, I am certain he will, AJ becomes the #2 and Fury the #3. That's why Turki has planned for AJ to face the winner of Usyk - Fury II. But if IBF strippes Usyk and DDD becomes their champion AJ will fight him for that belt. And after that the Usyk fight becomes an undisputed championship bout. Whether you like it or not that's how it's going to play out.

[Boxviewer]

If Dubois is willing to take a step aside fee and is promised the winner between Usyk and Fury; Then I cannot see a problem.

Then if he fights AJ and gets beaten AJ will take over his position, with or without the IBF belt, just like he has just taken over Hrgovic's position who has been waiting for 2 years for his shot. BTW, I don't that Usyk will be willing to pay him to step aside.

[crimsonfalcon07]

Stripping Usyk to give the title to a guy he's already beaten in a title defense just stinks to high heaven. I will lose any respect for the IBF if they choose that route.

[Bob]

Smacks of entitlement yet again from these 2, if the paper ibf belt isn't on the line we'll go with the easier option.
If it isn't Dubois how will they fill Wembly unless it's the arena? Though Ajs last fight in the UK was in the same half empty arena against Franklin getting booed all night by his homeboyeeees.
Sound's like they want to avoid any contenders to the top, oh that's right Aj doesn't want to ruin other fighter's dreams... Sure sure sure.

[slimPickings]

If IBF strips Usyk of their belt then the world boxing will have another newly crowned backdoor champion called Joshua or Dubois. Either of whom have been beaten by the legitimate man, Usyk. Not a great fan of Fury, but it will be hugely unfair if his rematch with Usyk won't be for undisputed.

While i hate any fighter being "unfairly" stripped of the belt they won in the ring, I equally hate the idea of rematch clauses even BEFORE the first fight that ultimately ties up the belts and keeps all other contenders on the shelf!!!

[Boxviewer]

Joshua should pass on fighting for this meaningless belt. It will only make him look silly to win a phony belt when everyone knows Usyk is the real champion.

It doesn't matter, AJ's goal is to fight Fury or Usyk for the undisputed championship. There is no guarantee that Usyk can beat him for the third time, especially against a rejuvenated and confident AJ.

BTW, I have read elsewhere that Usyk is planning to go back to cruiserweight and try to become cruiserweight undisputed championship for the second time. He said that he doesn't enjoy blowing up in weight in order to compete at heavyweight division. So, if he beats Fury in the rematch he will probably move down to cruiserweight. So, a third Usyk - AJ fight is not certain but a huge payday might be too alluring.

[crimsonfalcon07]

While i hate any fighter being "unfairly" stripped of the belt they won in the ring, I equally hate the idea of rematch clauses even BEFORE the first fight that ultimately ties up the belts and keeps all other contenders on the shelf!!!

What contenders are there though? Joshua, who he's beaten twice. Dubois, who he stopped. Parker, who lost to twice-beaten Joshua. Hrgovic, who was stopped by Dubois, and should have a loss to Zhang. Zhang, who lost to Parker.

Kabayel is the only undefeated guy in title contention right now. And Fury, as much as I dislike him, is still the next highest ranked guy.

[Roj]

It will be Zhang.. If AJ can put a spectacular knockout of Big **** and do something no one else has done, that would really rec up the hype for an AJ-Fury fight.

[champion4ever]

Then if he fights AJ and gets beaten AJ will take over his position, with or without the IBF belt, just like he has just taken over Hrgovic's position who has been waiting for 2 years for his shot. BTW, I don't that Usyk will be willing to pay him to step aside.

I am afraid you are right. The one thing I can say about the IBF is that they are very stringent and a stickler for their mandatory bouts.

They are not as flexible as other sanctioning bodies like the WBC or the WBA. Just look how they stripped both Canelo and Golovkin for not defending their mandatories.

Hell, they even stripped Terence Crawford of his title. For not consenting with them first about an alleged rematch clause against Errol Spence, Jr.

My advice is that I strongly recommend in the future; That promoters should first check and get prior approval from the IBF first.

Especially before deciding to put rematch clauses for undisputed bouts in their fighter’s contracts.