WBC president, Mauricio Sulaiman, has solidified his support for WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury following the ‘Gyspy King’s’ decision to pursue a non-title defence against former UFC champion Francis Ngannou on the 28th of October.
The WBC champion will head out and face Ngannou in Saudi Arabia in a move which has infuriated the boxing industry and has ultimately been ridiculed as nothing more than a cash grab by Fury, given the expected uncompetitive spectacle it is set to be.
Earlier this month, Sulaiman granted Fury permission to take up the offer to face Ngannou. The WBC titleholder will not face any penalty or be stripped of his title due to a lack of mandatory challenger available or called by the WBC.
Sulaiman explains that Fury had attempted to make fights with Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz.
"The WBC is absolutely supportive of Tyson Fury and his decision to engage in a non-title bout and a WBC special event contest. He has tried to land a fight with the unified champion several times, with [Anthony] Joshua and [Andy] Ruiz and all credible opponents, and not having a mandatory contender, he may engage in this type of event under the WBC rules," Sulaiman said to Sky Sports.
Fury has been inactive following his knockout victory over Derek Chisora in December last year, which occurred at New White Heart Lane Stadium, London.
Last year at the WBC annual convention, the ranking organisation ordered its former heavyweight title holder Deontay Wilder to face former unified heavyweight world champion Andy Ruiz Jr in a final eliminator to become Fury’s mandatory challenger. However, despite best efforts, the final eliminator is yet to materialise despite the WBC’s sanction of the contest. Talks between Wilder and Ruiz Jr have been ongoing for several months, yet no deal is yet to be agreed upon.
Sulaiman has stated that if a deal between Wilder and Ruiz Jr can't be agreed upon, then a new eliminator will have to be called.
"The WBC has been flexible and supporting to try to find the best mandatory contender of the WBC in the division," Sulaiman said.
"Wilder vs Ruiz, without a doubt, would have the best mandatory contender. We are waiting for a final decision [from] both camps. If such is not materialized, then we will have to cancel such order and create a new ruling."
