Quote Originally Posted by Master View Post
Quote Originally Posted by TonnnnUK View Post
Would a fair conclusion be that while Fury went off the rails Joshua cleaned up a bit, but the Wilder spectacle never materialised (blame whoever you want).
Warren and Fury took a big gamble in taking the Wilder fight and it paid off big time, and then he goes and knocks him out second time round to propel himself back up to his standing at the top table.
Hindsight is easy, but Hearn and Josh must be ruing the Wilder fight never happening after all the back and forth, seeing him dismantled by Fury, AJ could have been the full unified champ without having to take Ruiz and that bad loss, and this debate wouldn't even be happening!

I think as it's turned out Fury is seen as the man at the top due to how he beat Wilder while the Ruiz loss damaged Josh's standing somewhat.
I agree that AJ should have taken on Wilder to become undisputed champion and let it slip but it has come out that Wilder was asking for a "kings ransom" for the title. AJ/Eddie made a business decision not to increase their bid and probably hoped Wilder would lose the belt preferably against Whyte which never did materialise.
All talk about money/contracts I just don't believe any of what anyone says! It's always a blame game and the truth is that no one really knows what was discussed, who stalled or demanded things and they will never admit to why things didn't materialise.

That being said, IF that's the way tings went then it's unfortunate and AJ was never going to get the Wilder fight, but at the time both sides claimed to want the fight and were blaming the other side. Who really knows!?