Former super-middleweight world champion Carl Froch has suggested that the highly anticipated clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury could become a world title fight, despite initial expectations. The all-British heavyweight showdown is contingent on both fighters securing victories in their respective warm-up bouts this week. Fury is set to face Mariusz Wach in Thailand, while Joshua will take on Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia.
The potential for a world title to be on the line has emerged following Oleksandr Usyk's decision in June to vacate his WBC, WBA, and IBF heavyweight belts. While the WBC title was quickly awarded to mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel and Murat Gassiev elevated to official WBA champion, the IBF strap remains vacant. Daniel Dubois currently holds the WBO title, but it is the vacant IBF belt that many, including Froch, believe could be incorporated into the Joshua vs Fury event.
Froch, speaking to the Independent via Betpack, highlighted the benefits of adding a world title, stating that it would immediately elevate the event's stature. He explained, "It immediately becomes a bigger event, because somebody gets the chance to call himself a two-time or three-time heavyweight champion." While acknowledging that boxing purists would understand the circumstances of Usyk vacating the belt, Froch believes the official world-title status would significantly boost its commercial appeal and historical importance.
Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, is known for his strong relationships with various boxing governing bodies, which Froch believes could facilitate the inclusion of the IBF belt. “Why not? There may be other deserving fighters, but it would help sell the event,” Froch added. The addition of a world title would provide an extra layer of prestige to a fight already generating immense interest between two former two-time world heavyweight champions.
The eagerly awaited bout between Joshua, 36, and Fury, 37, is still without a confirmed date, though Saudi matchmaker Turki Alalshikh has floated the idea of it taking place at Wembley Stadium in November, albeit with a proposed 2am BST start time. Joshua’s last fight was in December, a six-round stoppage of Jake Paul, while Fury returned from his fifth retirement in April to outpoint Arslanbek Makhmudov. Both fighters have a history of holding and losing unified heavyweight titles, making this potential title fight even more compelling.