Boxing
WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury prefers the Oleksandr Usyk fight over Dillian Whyte, says Bob Arum
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Questions still remain as to who WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will face next after his mandatory fight against Dillian Whyte wasn't ordered by the sanctioning body.
Due to an onoging legal battle between Whyte and the WBC, a mandatory defence cannot be ordered, while a fight with unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk failed to materialise after Anthony Joshua activated his rematch clause.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Fury's US promoter Bob Arum explained why a fight with Whyte is not in their immediate plans.
"Whyte's people had brought an arbitration proceeding against the WBC. The WBC said they would not grant Whyte a mandatory position while the arbitration is pending," Arum explained.
"Whyte is an excellent fighter. When the time comes, and it will come soon, for Tyson to figure out his next opponent then Whyte should be at the top of the list."
The 89-year-old then went onto discuss the chances of Fury facing Usyk for the undisputed world heavyweight championship.
"The alternative is that if Joshua decides not to exercise his rematch against Usyk and decides to step aside, the fight we would like to make is between Usyk and Fury," he said.
"That is a fight to unify the titles once and for all. Then Joshua can fight the winner of the undisputed fight, Whyte can stand in line and fight the winner ultimately.
"That's what Tyson would like. And I represent Tyson. That's his preference.
"If they want to fight each other, which I believe they do? I would facilitate it."
