STOP THE TALK... FIGHT THE FIGHT

THERE are three heavyweight fights that people want to see: Anthony Joshua against Tyson Fury, Tyson Fury against Deontay Wilder, Deontay Wilder against Anthony Joshua.

That five separate broadcast companies have signed deals with the fighters as good as ensures these fights cannot happen, short-term at least.

This is utterly self-defeating. Who would want to see mismatches with second-tier heavyweights — particularly when the Fury-Wilder return seemed such an easy match to make? We’re back in the realm of talking about fighting.

Fury seems to believe it is enough to keep saying he beat Wilder — he did not — without having to go to the trouble of actually doing it. Joshua is on the outside, and nobody wants to make a deal with Wilder. BT Sport, ESPn, Showtime, Sky Sports and DAZn are all putting money in, but for what? Come fight night, the take-up may be less than expected. The sporting public know what they want, and they don’t want this.