Tyson Fury’s failure to have a voluntary defense of his WBC heavyweight title has raised questions over whether he should be stripped.
After having acquired the belt from Deontay Wilder, Fury has had three defenses against the ‘Bronze Bomber’, Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora. However, the failure to fight Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title resulted in the boxer facing Francis Ngannou on October 28th, 2023. That bout has resulted in a significant amount of criticism since Fury’s WBC title will not be on the line. Meanwhile, the ‘Gypsy King’ has admitted that he has no interest in facing the biggest names. The focus was clearly on trying to secure the most lucrative fights.
“I have no interest in fighting those guys. I didn’t come back this time for belts, I came back to secure my family and I’ve done it,” Fury said
In Fury’s defence, though, the mandatory situation has not helped him. Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz Jr. had been on course to face each other in the WBC title eliminator. The winner would have had the right to face Fury for the belt. And yet, disagreements over the purse splits meant that the fight was scrapped. And until the mandatory situation is resolved, Fury will continue to pick fights of his own choosing. The social media reaction, however, was far from complimentary towards Fury.
Social Media Response
If his next fight after Francis isn’t against a legit boxing opponent, then, yes.
— Music&Boxingfan2791 (@MBoxingfan2791) September 14, 2023
Yes
— PJ Bennett (@PJBennett18) September 14, 2023
Yes! @wbcmoro @FightDisciples
— Nathan T Shields MMA (@NathanTShields) September 8, 2023