Frank Warren has speculated on whether or not there will be a rematch clause in the contract for Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s heavyweight undisputed fight.
The bout is said to be deep in negotiations, mainly with a site and purses to be decided following both fighters already agreeing that it will take place next.
Something else, however, that hasn’t been decided is the matter of a rematch clause. The stipulation allows the eventual loser of the fight to trigger an immediate second fight.
Frank Warren told TalkSPORT that it ‘probably’ would be the case.
“I’m not sure. I mean we haven’t got into that, but I probably think there would be [a rematch clause] because, God forbid, one of them gets a cut eye or anything goes wrong – anything can happen in boxing as we know -then there would be.”
“The four belts are on the line, and the winner gets them. If there is a rematch I don’t think then the four belts will be on the line for it cause I don’t think the governing bodies will allow it. I think they’ll just say ‘right, you’ve got to get on with your mandatories now.'”
Rematch clauses are becoming more and more common in the sport – often to the frustration of fans – and it’s not a surprise that potentially the biggest fight boxing can offer, at least in terms of legacy, will follow a similar pattern.
What it does mean though is more confusion for the heavyweight scene and, as Warren points out, the potential of having one champion for a matter of weeks before the belts fragment and are fought for in a vacant capacity.
The governing bodies are, in some cases, pausing mandatory challenges for the undisputed bout to go ahead, but it’s highly unlikely they’ll do this twice in a row.
This means the likes of Joe Joyce, Filip Hrgovic, and Daniel Dubois could be challenging for a belt by year end – or even just elevated to world champion status – should either Fury or Usyk trigger a rematch.