A conversation with promoter Eddie Hearn revealed how frustrating it can be dealing with boxing’s sanctioning bodies.
Anthony Joshua was still celebrating his victory over Andy Ruiz Jr. to regain three of the four major belts on Dec. 7 when he learned that he’ll probably have to give up one of them. So much for a unified champion.
The IBF has ordered Joshua to defend against Kubrat Pulev in his next fight. At the same time, the WBO told Joshua he must fight Oleksandr Usyk next. And Hearn, who promotes Joshua, said neither side will budge.
“We’ve written to the WBO and the IBF and it’s like, ‘No, we’re next. No, we’re next,’” Hearn told iFL TV. “Guys, who’s f—ing next? ‘Well we are. No, we are.’ What are you gonna do? Are you just gonna fragment the belts with a lack of common sense?
“There has to be some kind of rotation system that tells you who is next.”
The goal should be unify, Hearn said.
“You’ve got to encourage people to unify and to become undisputed,” he said. “I feel it’s really frustrating, it’s one of the many problems in boxing. If they say, ‘Your next two fights have got to be mandatory, then [the other] mandatory.’ OK. But don’t say, ‘No, these are your two fights, and if you don’t like it, you’ve got to drop a belt.’ That’s the frustrating thing and at the moment we might have to vacate a belt.
“We’re gonna speak to Usyk, we’re gonna speak to Pulev, we’re gonna see what the deals are to be done with those guys. And we’re gonna push with the IBF and the WBO [for a solution].”
Good luck.