The world needs Tyson Fury to fight Anthony Joshua for undisputed title

Tyson Fury stunned everyone by stopping Deontay Wilder in seven rounds.  Still, Anthony Joshua has three titles, and a unification bout would make things right.

Tyson Fury pulled off one of the most unlikely comeback stories by stopping Deontay Wilder in round 7, on Saturday, Feb.22. Now would be the perfect time for a unification bout with Anthony Joshua.

Fury fought Wilder to a draw in 2018 and was knocked down twice in the process. His performance against Wilder in the rematch eclipsed those memories. At no point was Wilder in the fight. It was completely one-sided, but there is a rematch clause within the fight contract.

Wilder has 30 days to exercise the rematch clause, but should he? He took a massive beating and might be wise to take some time about and sort out his future. In the interim, IBF, WBO, and WBA titleholder Joshua would be an excellent matchup for Fury.

Boxing fans have been waiting a long time for an undisputed heavyweight champion. Wilder feels the same way. He has repeated the phrase “one face, one name, one champion.”

It’s customary that when a champion loses their title that they have the opportunity to win it back. That’s fair, but there are ways around rematch clauses.

Shortly after Fury’s victory, DAZN tweeted out a graphic depicting Fury and Joshua fighting each other. Take that as a message that they want a unification bout.

It wouldn’t be unthinkable for Joshua and Matchroom Boxing to pay Wilder and PBC step-aside money with a guarantee that he could fight the winner somewhere down the road. It’s not Wilder’s style to step aside, but money has a way of influencing people.

Wilder said after his loss that he would “come back even stronger.” He may feel that way at the moment, but will he change his mind several weeks from now when he has had time to contemplate his future. At 34 years old, Wilder is aging for a heavyweight. He has never shown the vulnerability of his age until his loss to Fury. He could find his timing, and his reflexes looked off.

Most will expect Wilder to enact his rematch clause quickly, but there’s an off chance that Fury vs. Joshua could come next. It’s not likely, and then again, neither was Fury’s victory.