Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua could face an easier opponent after their December 11 fight in Cardiff under a four-man WBA plan proposed by Eddie Hearn.
The proposal would pair Murat Gassiev with Jarrell Miller, with their winner facing whoever emerges from Fury–Joshua. That could provide a route to another heavyweight title victory without requiring either British veteran to beat Filip Hrgovic, Daniel Dubois, Fabio Wardley or Moses Itauma.
“I think any resolution would have to appease the parties involved. Then Jarrell Miller falls into that party as well because ultimately he’s number one,” Hearn said to Matchroom Boxing. “Is it a Gassiev v Miller, like two semifinals, AJ against Fury and the winners fight each other? So that’s something that’s possible, but we’ll have to see the official resolution from the WBA.”
Hearn said that there is no official WBA resolution yet. He also noted that putting a belt on Fury–Joshua would give Joshua the opportunity to become a three-time heavyweight champion.
A chance to become a three-time heavyweight champion gives Joshua a reason to back the plan. Facing Gassiev or Miller afterward would also look easier than taking on one of the division’s top contenders.
Gassiev has power, but his heavyweight record leaves him open to the paper-champion criticism. He has yet to demonstrate that he belongs alongside the best in the division. Miller, meanwhile, has not produced the kind of victory that would move the conversation away from his history of positive PED tests and toward his title credentials.
Neither would be harmless. Still, Joshua or Fury would have reason to like their chances against either man compared with the alternatives.
Dubois, Wardley, Hrgovic and Itauma would demand more physically from the two veterans. Those fights would offer a stronger test of whether the Fury–Joshua winner can still compete with the leading heavyweights.
That makes Hearn’s proposed WBA arrangement a good deal for Fury and Joshua. Either would have a good chance of beating the Gassiev–Miller winner, but selling that fight could be harder. A belt would give the promotion something to build around, while leaving more appealing opponents out of the picture.