WBC won’t consider making Tyson Fury ‘Franchise champion’ until he makes mandatory defense

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman says he’s heard all the rumblings and media reports about the potential for Tyson Fury to be elevated to ‘Franchise champion’ status before he’s forced to face his mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte, but Sulaiman says that’s a no-go.

Not only does Sulaiman tell WBN that Fury has yet to make any such request, he goes on to say his organization wouldn’t consider it until Dillian Whyte gets his mandatory title shot by Feb. 2021, which the WBC has already ordered.

“The WBC has consistently confirmed that a mandatory bout between the WBC world heavyweight champion must take place with the mandatory challenger and Interim champion Dillian Whyte. This must take place after Fury vs Wilder III. Under those circumstances, and with an order in place, the WBC would not consider a request to elevate anyone in the heavyweight division to Franchise Champion before that division’s mandatory obligations are fulfilled.”

Fury is currently slated to have a third fight against Wilder which is being targeted for the end of the year, and of course there’s a big undisputed heavyweight title unification with Anthony Joshua looming in the background. Fury’s promoter Bob Arum was able to rile up Whyte a bit by suggesting he’d lobby for the WBC to delay or circumvent a Whyte fight, but these latest words from the WBC will probably allow him to breathe a light sigh of relief.