HEAVY WAIT DIVISION
Boxing blockbusters are lacking
SUMMER is fast approaching and the British heavyweight scene remains a barren land.
Hollywood film makers usually try to release a few big flicks heading into the warmer months of the year.
They get the tag of summer blockbusters, of course. How boxing could do with a few in the sport’s glamour division.
This week we had a further blow thanks to the bizarre decision by Ben Shalom and Boxxer to pull Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Frazer Clarke from a British heavyweight clash with Fabio Wardley.
There was supposed to be a purse bid on Wednesday but everyone was left puzzled when Clarke was withdrawn. Shalom has claimed Clarke needs a 10 rounder before he can fight Wardley. But so far he’s only found one opponent who managed to go the six rounds he’s been fighting so far in a professional career that needs to get moving. The reaction has been over the top to the fight that never was.
But it probably stems from a combined frustration from British fans champing at the bit to see the best in the glamour division on these shores mixing it up again. At least Joe Joyce can take credit for triggering his rematch clause to force a return fight with Zhilei Zhang.
We wait as negotiations go on for Daniel Dubois (inset) against Oleksandr Usyk for the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.
While the rest of the noise is all about Saudi Arabia and fights that may happen in December between WBC title holder Tyson Fury, Usyk, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder.
That’s, checking the calendar, a whopping seven months away.
Saudi sources are indicating they don’t want any of the four risking their big winter in the desert by taking summer bouts.
But if any of them opt to stay out of the ring until then they are doing the sport, their fans and themselves a disservice.
Those around Fury and Joshua certainly want their men in action this summer to keep off the ring rust.
But yet again we wait for the heavyweights to make a move.
There’s no major football tournament this summer and no Olympic Games so boxing could take centre stage with a couple of big heavyweight nights.
Time to take advantage but the clock is ticking to get deals done.