Frank Warren plans to begin negotiations for a lucrative rematch between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder imminently.
In his role as Fury’s promoter, and alongside the British Boxing Board of Control, he has made a complaint to the WBC over the scores that meant their thrilling world heavyweight title fight, at Los Angeles’ Staples Centre, concluded as a draw.
His hope is that the sanctioning body order an immediate rematch, but speaking post-fight – having already spoken of his desire for a rematch – Wilder also reiterated his willingness to fight IBF, WBA and WBO champion Anthony Joshua.
A fight between the two champions for all four titles might even prove richer than Wilder-Fury II, but in the present circumstances would represent an injustice and also seems unlikely, with Joshua expected to fight Dillian Whyte at Wembley on April 13.
However, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn hinted he is travelling to Los Angeles to discuss a potential unification fight with Wilder for the Wembley date in the next year.
He told the Daily Mail: “First we need to find out what is happening with a Wilder-Fury rematch and whether the rematch clause we are hearing about is what it seems.
“If anything, the way that fight went on Saturday works in our favour in terms of getting Wilder. That has always been the fight we want because he has the last belt.
“It might also be the case that Wilder fancies his chances in a punch-out with AJ rather than another go at Fury. As far as AJ is concerned, he will fight anyone. He would love Wilder next and he has always wanted Fury.
“I am going out to LA and we will talk (with Wilder’s representatives) this week. It is a fight we definitely want for April and will work hard to make.”
The likeliest outcome would appear to be Wilder-Fury II in a Las Vegas casino, also in the coming spring.
With his fighter’s reputation enhanced, Warren told Press Association Sport: “You’d think they’d want the rematch. They’ve said they do.
“I think it’s got a good chance of coming to London. You’d have a 90,000 gate at Wembley, so you’re talking serious money. But with Tyson, he’ll travel – he’ll go where the money is, for March, April.
“I find it invigorating. From where he’s come from, I just really enjoy it.
“They said he wasn’t going to sell any tickets. They said it wouldn’t go ahead – well it did go ahead, didn’t it?
“They said it was going to be a boring fight. It was one of the most exciting fights – certainly the most exciting I’ve seen at heavyweight in America since Lennox Lewis-Vitali Klitschko (in 2003).
“I’ve worked with Mike Tyson, Frank Bruno – all of those. Now, Fury’s the people’s champion.”
That Fury succeeded in performing to such a high level following a period of only 14 unremarkable rounds in three years that featured significant ring-rust, him gaining in weight to 27 stones, taking cocaine and contemplating suicide fully vindicated his trainer Ben Davison.
The previously-unproven Davison, 26, had been considered a potential weakness in Fury’s preparations but in only their third bout together he oversaw a performance that suggests the fighter is again the world’s finest heavyweight.
The 30-year-old Fury said: “Everybody said Ben couldn’t do it and he’d fold under pressure.
“But I didn’t see any folding, Ben. Did you, son? He didn’t fold. I knew I’d made the right choice in old Davison here. He did a fantastic job. Nobody in the world could have done a better job than Ben.
“He gave me clear, calm instructions, even when I was down. Ever since me and Ben started working together, I’ve felt I made the right choice. If this man ain’t the highest candidate for trainer of the year, then I haven’t seen one.”