American Promoter, Lou DiBella, has had his say on the potential fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, believing it may be more of a ‘business proposition’ than anything else.
DiBella, who promotes the likes of George Kambosos Jr and Richard Commey, spoke with SecondsOut to discuss the British heavyweight title fight that’s close to being announced – specifically on whether ‘AJ’ should be taking the fight.
“Joshua didn’t fight poorly against Usyk. He fought better than he fought [the first time.] He just lost to a better boxer. If he was going to win the fight and fight Fury, is it so outrageous that he lost the fight and he’s going to fight Fury? No.”
“But, coming off that fight, two losses in a row, rushing to make year end, to fight Fury on Fury’s timetable when you haven’t had the easiest stretch and you haven’t won a fight in a while – it almost seems like a cash out to me. Like you know ‘hey, here’s maybe my last opportunity to make this fight ever.’ And it’s a massive fight in the UK.”
“I’m sure that there will be massive money in that fight in the UK. I’m sure it’s a fight that’s gonna transcend boxing in the UK. So, I get it as a business proposition.”
Whilst DiBella highlighted some other fights he had expected Joshua to pursue – including domestic clashes with Joe Joyce and a long sought-after meeting with Deontay Wilder – he understood that fighting Fury may be the biggest spectacle of the lot.
“I guess there’s nothing of the enormity of Fury and Joshua in the UK, and that maybe everybody involved just wants to grab the cash when there’s still a chance, right? There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s not the fight I most want to see.”
The broadcast situation for the fight has drawn a lot of attention as a potential sticking point. Tyson Fury is exclusive with BT Sport in the UK, whilst Joshua has just signed a long term deal with DAZN.
DiBella has worked with Matchroom, Queensbury and Top Rank in the past. He believes that it can be done in a way to keep all involved happy.
“It’s been done before. Showtime and have done pay-per-views in unison. ESPN and FOX, and ESPN and Showtime, have done pay-per-views in unison. More people will order it through BT I believe, but that being said DAZN is now in the pay-per-view business, and they can make it available through DAZN.
It could be a reduced fee and free to some DAZN [subscribers] around the world depending on the market … If everyone was committed to getting it done, it strikes me that they could figure out a way to make it work.”
News of the fight is expected any day now, with Frank Warren suggesting that a press conference could be organised soon should talks continue to progress.