The world heavyweight title fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury could be delayed by at least a further year, according to BBC Radio 5 Live’s boxing expert Steve Bruce.
The all-British fight was billed for August in Saudi Arabia, but a hearing upheld Deontay Wilder’s claim that he was contractually owed a third fight with the WBC champion.
Fury, who has agreed a rematch with Wilder on 24 July, believes his fight with Joshua would still hold this year, but that can only happen if the pair emerge winners in their respective bouts.
Joshua on the other hand, has been ordered to defend his WBO heavyweight title against mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk.
“It might not be December or even next year,” Bunce said while speaking on 5 live Boxing with Costello.
“I will be stunned if Fury walks through Wilder in five rounds and Joshua is too big and stops Usyk in seven or eight rounds. That sets up something later this year – that is not going to happen.
“I am convinced there is going to be a hurdle in one of these fights that one of these champions can’t get over. I am convinced.”
BBC Radio 5 Live boxing commentator Mike Costello believes Usyk has the potential to cause Joshua problems.
The Ukrainian fighter has 18 wins from 18 bouts, and Costello said: “I think Usyk has the potential to give Joshua a real headache in terms of technique and making Joshua go looking for him.”
Fury was in Las Vegas on Saturday to sign his fight contract with Wilder and must switch his focus on the American, having spent the last few months training towards a bout with Joshua.
“Wilder, whatever the odds are now they will be slashed,” added Bunce.
“People will buy into the Wilder third-fight victory. He will look different, he will be faster and slicker.
“If Fury is training so hard and he is working in the gym so hard in Las Vegas, why is he always on the jet going to Texas or Miami? Or landing back in Las Vegas or leaving Vegas? It is only a tiny jet, there is no boxing ring on that jet.
“He seems to have spent the last three weeks on jets sunning himself going all over America.
“When does Fury actually settle down and start preparing for Wilder? He has not been training for Wilder, he has been training for a whole different guy since about December. Now he has a whole different opponent in the opposite corner.”
