Mauricio Sulaimán Guarantees Whyte Shot After Fury/Wilder 3
In one of Eddie Hearn’s most recent sessions wagging his silver tongue before the media, he inadvertently cast more doubt on Dillian “The Body Snatcher” Whyte (27-1, 18 KO’s) getting his title opportunity anywhere in the near future.
Hearn accomplished this by announcing that he’d come to financial terms on a potential two-fight deal between his fighter, WBO, WBA, IBF and IBO world heavyweight champion Anthony “AJ” Joshua (23-1, 21 KO’s) and WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury (30-0-1, 21 KO’s).
The insinuation being that the all-UK mega fight to determine the undisputed world heavyweight champion would supersede the lowly mandatory defense. Thankfully, in an exclusive interview with iFL TV, WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán has stepped forward to provide some clarity to the somewhat hazy situation.
GOOD NEWS FOR THE BODY SNATCHER
As far as Sulaimán is concerned, no business arrangement regarding a WBC champion is recognized by the WBC until formally submitted to the WBC board. Following this line of procedure, and having received no official paperwork, Sulaimán is essentially treating Hearn’s declaration as hearsay.
“There is too many things going on, everybody is talking, but we don’t rule on media. We don’t rule on what is said indirectly. We can only manage what is channeled through the proper means, which is direct communications.”
“…the timing you cannot control. Because if the fight [Fury v Wilder 3] takes place October, November, December, we don’t know. But for the WBC position, it is Wilder who is fighting Fury, and then the mandatory title defense.”
“…so to be very clear, to make the confirmation, we have Tyson Fury making the commitment that he has against Wilder. Which is a signed contract, and then the mandatory title defense of the division.”
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
Of course, it is fantastic news for Team Whyte to hear the WBC president back their fight; especially as loudly as Whyte has called for his shot. However, what would happen if Fury and Joshua produced a completed and signed contract?
Would the same sanctioning body that created the wildly unnecessary and horribly confusing Franchise title hold up such a historic fight that the whole globe would want to watch? After all, the whole premise of the Franchise title was to allow the best fights, which the fans most wanted to see, possible, minus any technical hindrances.
This makes it very hard to believe the WBC would be the ones to pump the brakes on the production of that prizefight. So, reading in between the lines, while it has not been sent yet, Dillian Whyte could be one emailed contract away from the back burner once again. Guess only time will tell the tale.
By: Bakari Simpson
