Boxing
Fury, Joshua and Wilder return; what’s next for the glamor division?
Published
5 months agoon
On Saturday in London, Tyson Fury retired once again and defeated Arslanbek Makhmudov by unanimous decision. Fury was so slippery, lively and agile that Makhmudov got stuck in the mud for long stretches of the fight.
Fury looked much better than expected considering his time away from the ring. Makhmudov, however, was not in the same class as Oleksandr Usyk, the only fighter to beat Fury. After Fury’s win, former champion Deontay Wilder’s entertaining if sloppy decision over Derek Chisora on April 4, and former unification champion Anthony Joshua’s potential return from his car crash in December, it’s starting to look like these three could collide.
Fury and Wilder fought each other three times in an epic trilogy that set the heavyweight division on fire. But that’s all we got from these three players in top form. And now, many years later, there is a glimmer of hope that another one of these hypothetical fights will happen.
The question is which one.
After his victory over Makhmudov, Fury called on Joshua to finally meet him later this year.
“Then I want to give [the fans] the fight you’ve all been waiting for. I want you, AJ, Anthony Joshua,” Fury said during his post-fight interview, pointing to Joshua at ringside. “Let’s give the fight fans what they want. The Battle of Britain. And here’s my challenge: I challenge you, Anthony Joshua, to fight me, the Gypsy King. Do you accept my challenge?”
Joshua decided to block Fury.
“I sat at that table with him many times,” Joshua said in his post-match interview. “Deep in my heart I will fight Tyson Fury tomorrow, especially after watching it [this fight]. It’s okay that I fight. This is what I do.
“I’m not going to sit here and say, ‘Yes, I’m going to fight him’. I’m not here to gain strength. I’m here to fight. The contracts will be sent. We’ll go through the smallest details and probably, more than that, you’ll probably see us in the ring next. But I’m not here to start getting in the ring and screaming in someone’s face. If you look at my track record, I’ve never done that. I’m not here to have influence.”
Fury and Joshua have held negotiations numerous times over the years and came close to an agreement in 2021, but the fight never materialized. Joshua is well aware of Fury’s games and refused to agree to the former champion’s demands in the name of entertainment.
“Look, he’s the one who retired,” Joshua said. “I was in the game. I never retired. I’ve been forceful for the last 13 years. It’s his fault, right? He disappears, he comes back, he disappears, he comes back. I’m forceful.”
While a fight between the two seems more likely than ever, there is still a distinct possibility that Joshua goes in a different direction and brings in another heavyweight he was once rumored to fight: Wilder.
A week ago, Wilder didn’t seem to be at Fury’s level, and his clock is ticking much faster than Fury’s. If Joshua is looking at a high-profile adjustment fight, Wilder makes a lot of sense. However, Wilder remains risky enough to raise the level of intrigue in the highly anticipated fight.
But Joshua (36) holds all the cards here. Both Wilder, 40, and Fury, 37, will have to wait their turn in what can now be called the “older” level of the heavyweight division.
The best option for the trio of former world champions is to finally face each other while the rest of the division moves on. It is unlikely that any of these three will fight juvenile, rising fighters Moses Itauma, Richard Torrez Jr. or Fabio Wardley. All three would love a piece of division king Oleksandr Usyk, but the unified champion has beaten Fury and Joshua twice each.
At this point, there is no reason for these three to fight anyone but each other. They are still the biggest names in the league and stand to make the most money. This is their best chance to win fights instead of taking risks against younger, powerful but less popular heavyweights. Any combination of fights – brief of Fury vs. Wilder – would be massive in Britain, where Fury and Joshua are from, and could fill a football stadium. All three of them know this, but rest assured, hubris is at play and may ruin your plans… again.
You may like
Boxing
Jeff Mayweather Compares Floyd Mayweather and Terence Crawford: Crawford is a Better Puncher
Published
4 hours agoon
September 12, 2026
Both Floyd Mayweather and Terence Crawford hung up the gloves with undefeated records, and Mayweather’s uncle and former trainer Jeff Mayweather has assessed how a battle between the pair, in their primes, would play out.
Mayweather retired as a five-division world champion with a legendary 50-0 undefeated record, defeating the likes of Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao in a career that will be spoke about for decades to come.
Meanwhile, Crawford retired last year after becoming the first post-war three-division undisputed world champion, walking away from the sport with his unbeaten record intact after 42 pro contests and a career best victory over Canelo Alvarez.
Discussing a fantasy fight between the two superstars with Sean ZittelJeff Mayweather shared his love for ‘Bud’ but maintained that he would fancy ‘TBE’ to come out on top.
“It’s one of them fights where fans would probably be split down the middle. Of course, I would choose my nephew [to win] but Terence Crawford is a damn good fighter.
“I don’t just like him as a fighter, I like him as a person, I like the way that he carries himself, what he stands for and what he represents. So I like a lot about Terence Crawford.”
The 62-year-old then went on to admit that Crawford may have been a better puncher than Mayweather, but favoured the elusiveness of his nephew over the aggression of the Omaha-born southpaw.
“If the fight happened and Floyd was in his prime, I think that Floyd would beat him. I think that Terence fights and gets hit a whole lot, I have never seen a fight where Floyd got hit a whole lot.
“Terence Crawford was a better puncher than Floyd, I think, so it’s a fight that either one could win but I’m going with my nephew!”
Crawford has been linked to a comeback in recent dayswith fight fans keen to see the 39-year-old return to action and face unified super-welterweight world champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
Boxing
Oscar De La Hoya Raises Concerns Over Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn Final KO Verdict
Published
5 hours agoon
September 12, 2026
Tonight in Las Vegas, Ryan Garcia puts his WBC welterweight world title on the lines against Conor Benn. Garcia’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, sees the fight ending inside the distance.
Benn is fighting at welterweight for the first time in four years and, despite hitting 146lbs on the scales, most in the sport believe dropping back down from his two middleweight bouts last year will have too much of an effect in the ring for him to spring the upset.
Garcia is fighting his third fight at the weight – he lost to Rolando Romero in 2025 in an underwhelming performance but bounced back with a disciplined display this year to beat Mario Barrios for the belt.
Speaking to Carl FrochDe La Hoya also focused on the Brit’s weight cut when giving his final verdict on how the fight plays out, ultimately picking his charge by KO.
“It seems like Conor Benn knows how to handle the pressure, he knows how to handle the fans and be in that environment. He can fight with fighters who are strong and coming at you with combinations and pressure.
“The only thing that concerns me is the weight. It reminds me of when I fought Bernard Hopkins at 160 and then tried to come back to 147 to fight Manny Pacquiao. I was depleted. I was a dead man walking. So, that’s my only concern.
“I think Ryan’s a big puncher. He’s in tremendous shape. I don’t think Conor Benn is going to be able to take his punches. I think the fact that Conor has come down to 147 is gonna take its toll, and I feel, as the fight goes on, it’s gonna get worse for him.
“So I have my guy Ryan Garcia probably knocking him out or stopping him. But all credit to Connor … I’m just speaking facts here. Ryan Garcia is in his weight class … Conor Benn knowing that his body is depleted is gonna weigh [on him].”
Both Garcia and Benn have promised to end the fight early, and the styles suggest that it will catch fire relatively early on. If Garcia comes out on top, he opens the door to major unifications against the likes of Teofimo Lopez and a rematch with Devin Haney.
Should Benn upset the odds and have his hand raised, he has made it clear that he will vacate the belt and move up in weight.
Boxing
Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn: Start Time, Live Results & Fight Updates
Published
7 hours agoon
September 12, 2026
Las Vegas hosts Garcia’s first WBC welterweight title defense, with US and UK viewers facing very different fight-night hours.
Fight Prediction
Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn
Ryan Garcia50%
Conor Benn50%
Voting open • Opening line: 50%–50%
Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn are expected to make their ring walks at approximately 11 p.m. ET on Saturday / 4 a.m. BST at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Garcia defends his WBC welterweight title on September 12, with Benn challenging for a world championship for the first time.

The main card starts at 8 p.m. ET / 1 a.m. BST on September 13. Preliminary action begins at 5 pm ET / 10 pm BST.
The projected Garcia-Benn ring-walk time can move depending on the length of the earlier fights and stoppages.
Where Is Garcia vs Benn Streaming?
Paramount+ streams Garcia-Benn live in the United States. UK and Ireland viewers can watch the event LIVE on DAZN PPV.
Garcia enters his first defense after outpointing Mario Barrios to capture the WBC belt in February. Benn secured his championship opportunity by beating Regis Prograis on points in April.
The challenger will have to cross dangerous ground to get his work done.
Benn wants to dig to the body and make Garcia exchange. Garcia has the counterpunching to punish a reckless approach, particularly with the left hook when Benn squares his feet coming forward.
Garcia can make Benn pay for forcing his way inside, while Benn needs to work without leaving himself planted in front of the champion after his combinations.
Jai Opetaia against Noel Mikaelian provides the cruiserweight co-feature. The card also includes Jose Ramirez against Alexis Rocha, Mark Magsayo against Andres Cortes and Sean Garcia against Abraham Morales.
For viewers primarily interested in the main event, 11 pm ET / 4 am BST is the current approximate target. Anyone wanting the complete card should be watching from 5 pm ET / 10 pm BST.
Boxing247.com is an independent boxing news publication covering the sport since 2001. It provides original reporting, fight analysis, schedules, results, and informed coverage of major fighters and events worldwide, backed by more than 25 years of professional boxing journalism.
Click here to subscribe to our FREE newsletter
Latest Boxing News:
Last Updated on 2026/09/12 at 8:31 AM
Jeff Mayweather Compares Floyd Mayweather and Terence Crawford: Crawford is a Better Puncher
Oscar De La Hoya Raises Concerns Over Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn Final KO Verdict
Din Thomas says Brandon Moreno is in 'do-or-die' situation at Noche UFC
Trending
-
Boxing2 days agoWhy Emiliano Vargas Is Not Prepared to Face Shakur Stevenson
-
MMA2 days agoTom Aspinall attacked by top heavyweight in X-rated rant amidst long hiatus
-
MMA2 days agoZabit Magomedsharipov’s undefeated brother gets biggest test yet at PFL Dubai
-
MMA2 days agoUFC champ Justin Gaethje stumps for Trump at GOP midterm convention
-
Boxing2 days agoRyan Garcia vs Conor Benn: Expert Prediction for the Upcoming Showdown
-
MMA2 days agoJustin Gaethje surprisingly supports Arman Tsarukyan's long wait for UFC title shot
-
MMA2 days agoVideo: Dana White separates Ryan Garcia, Conor Benn after heated faceoff
-
MMA2 days agoDrakkar Klose plans to 'make it dirty' against Tommy Gantt at Noche UFC, eyes Beneil Dariush rematch


