Journalist Dan Rafael gives Pro Boxing Fans the latest on Deontay Wilder vs Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk and more:
There’s a rumor swirling in the boxing world about a potential showdown between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder, set to take place in Saudi Arabia. Rafael addressed the speculation with his characteristic cool, stating, “Right now I would just say, don’t get too excited, don’t get too depressed. We’ll just let it play out.” Is it really happening? Or is it all just talk? The answer remains up in the air.
Rafael revealed his recent interactions with the managers involved in these dealings. “I actually had spoken to Shelley [Finkel, Wilder’s manager]…he said, ‘We’re talking about it, but we don’t have an agreement, we don’t have a contract. We’re hoping to get one, and we want to do the fight. We’re very interested; we’ve been in discussion with them for a while.'” It seems the conversations are on, but is the deal close to being signed? The waiting game continues.
Dealing with the Wild Card: The Fury Factor
With Tyson Fury thrown into the mix, the intrigue heightens. “Fury, you never know what that man is going to do, or what he’s going to say, or what he’s going to react to,” Rafael mused. How might his unpredictable nature shape the trajectory of these potential fights? Only time will tell.
There’s a question mark over whether the Saudis will manage to organize these mega fights. “I’m not sure what the appetite is for the Saudis if they just do the one fight,” Rafael noted. Could they pull off this mammoth task? If they can’t, Rafael optimistically suggested an alternative: “They at the very least would go forward and try to do Wilder Joshua because even if that’s on its own, that’s still one of the biggest fights in boxing.”
Behind the Scenes: The Battle of the Managers
The managers of these heavyweights seem to have differing views on the prospects of these fights, with the media as their battleground. “I just have a hard time because of the track record of believing anything that comes from the Fury camp,” Rafael said.
Rafael highlighted the difficulties in making a deal with Tyson Fury, citing past negotiations where Fury made the terms so unsignable that the other side walked away. “That’s unfortunately the way that Fury has handled his business,” he said. “The other guys haven’t really seen such issues making fights. The one that seems to be the sticking point, the problem is Tyson Fury.”
The Final Bell: An In-Depth Chat Concludes
In wrapping up the interview, Rafael gave a nod to the complexity of the boxing world and the constant shifting of possibilities. Whether the fights happen as speculated, or take a completely different turn, the intrigue of the sport remains as enticing as ever. As he put it, “Always a pleasure to catch up with you… appreciate your time.”
