The WBC fails to order a mandatory defence for champion Tyson Fury against Dillian Whyte
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The WBC failed to order champion Tyson Fury to fight Dillian Whyte next, putting his heavyweight world title hopes on hold.
Whyte was expected to be designated as the obligatory challenger to Fury’s WBC title, which he won by knocking out Deontay Wilder in the eleventh round in October.
The WBC, on the other hand, has suggested that they cannot officially call for Whyte’s obligatory defence due to his legal struggle, which is assumed to be centred on his anger over not being able to fight for the title.
If Fury is unable to schedule a fight with new unified and WBA (Super), WBO, and IBF champion Oleksandr Usyk, WBC authorities have previously stated that a mandatory defence will be ordered. That unification fight was effectively ruled out when Anthony Joshua activated his rematch clause against Ukrainian Usyk.
Meanwhile, Whyte was supposed to meet Otto Wallin to determine the mandatory challenger, but he was forced to withdraw due to a shoulder injury.
However, because he presently owns the WBC’s interim title, his withdrawal from that fight was not expected to have an impact on the sanctioning body’s decision.
The WBC had been expected to designate Whyte as the challenger at their annual convention on Tuesday, but they instead stated that the continuing legal struggle prevented them from doing so.
The arbitration dispute is thought to be about Whyte’s dissatisfaction with the WBC’s decision-making in recent years, as he spent long periods at the top of their rankings but was never given a chance to defend his title.
British fight fans are eager to see Whyte face Fury, and the battle is expected to take place in the United Kingdom, marking the “Gypsy King’s” long-awaited return to his homeland.
Since signing a deal with ESPN and Top Rank in 2019, Fury has made Las Vegas his home, with his most recent fight in the UK taking place in August 2018 in Belfast, when he defeated Francesco Pianeta.
If the WBC’s problems with Whyte continue, Fury could still compete in the UK in his next fight while he waits for Joshua’s rematch with Usyk to be resolved.