Tuesday 21 November 2017 11:23, UK
Tony Bellew has options to consider despite David Haye pulling out of their rematch...
Bellew was due for a second fight against Haye on December 17 to settle their bitter rivalry but they will now have to wait until 2018 to plot a rematch.
There is a vacancy opposite Dillian Whyte, who hasn't yet tied up his next opponent, and there is a grudge to settle for Bellew.
Whyte was the most vocal critic of Bellew's win over David Haye last March, labelling him a "fake heavyweight" despite his successful debut in the division.
"If you want to prove yourself as a true heavyweight then fight me," Whyte said earlier this year.
"If he is struggling to knock out a one-legged man, how is he going to knock out a true heavyweight who always shows up to fight? It's impossible."
Bellew hit back: "Why I am going to go from fighting the former undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world, the former heavyweight champion of the world, to fighting someone who got knocked out for a British title?"
Yet suddenly this fight presents itself as an option because Bellew and Whyte are fit and ready, but without an opponent. Whyte's hopes of luring WBC champion Deontay Wilder have so far not come to fruition.
Bellew has voiced his intent to challenge for a world heavyweight title and a shot at WBO champion Joseph Parker was thought to be one of his options before he opted for a second fight with Haye.
Standing at 6ft 4in tall, Parker does not have the same imposing physical presence as fellow champions Joshua and Deontay Wilder, while Bellew has already suggested he is the weakest title holder.
The New Zealander is currently negotiating a unification clash, but can make a voluntary defence of his belt and could switch his sights to Bellew for a tempting offer.
A crop of dangerous contenders have emerged at cruiserweight since Bellew's last fight in the division, and his legacy could be cemented by taking one of them on.
The World Boxing Super Series will account for the semi-finalists Oleksandr Usyk, Mairis Briedis, Murat Gassiev and Yunier Dorticos but there is still an intriguing challenge for Bellew in the shape of Denis Lebedev.
Bellew, who vacated his WBC title before he stepped up to heavyweight, previously had Lebedev on his radar. "Nobody is forcing my hand to go to Russia," Bellew said in 2016.
"I will fight Lebedev anywhere, whether it be England or the USA."
"Ideally, my dream is to unify the cruiserweight division at Goodison against Lebedev."
Lebedev currently holds the WBA 'super' cruiserweight title and has twice boxed in the UK.
There is mutual respect between Bellew and Fury, but this outspoken duo could welcome the opportunity to trade verbal and genuine jabs in a battle that will generate plenty of publicity.
"I'll be ready, willing and waiting to fight Tony Bellew, May 5, O2 Arena, London," Fury posted on social media on Monday.
"Like I said before Tony, you want to fight a real man, you want to fight the best heavyweight in the world, the heavyweight that beat everybody else, the heavyweight that never lost a fight, the real heavyweight champion of the world, I'm ready and waiting.
"Be no contest, one uppercut, ceiling job. If you think you can do any different, prove it wrong."
Fury's future remains unclear as he is still waiting for the outcome of a UK Anti-Doping hearing into a suspended drugs charge, but the 29-year-old remains confident he will return in 2018.
Aside from the world champions, a fight with Fury would represent the most attractive bout for Bellew as he attempts to scale new heights in his career.
Bellew seems to have ruled out the possibility of a blockbuster domestic clash against Joshua, citing his friendship with the WBA 'super' and IBF champion, along with the sheer size of AJ.
But Joshua could need a high profile opponent to match his growing stature in the sport and Bellew may find himself added to the shortlist, if a discussed fight with WBO champion Parker falls through.
Whether Bellew can be persuaded to alter his stance, with the lure of a huge financial award on offer, remains to be seen.
There is still a score to settle. Haye's withdrawal from their scheduled rematch on December 17 will likely only add to the animosity, rather than dissolve it.
Haye has now suffered serious injuries to his shoulder, Achilles (during the Bellew fight) and bicep but still plans to return, possibly into a rescheduled second fight with his Liverpool rival.
The timescale of Haye's latest comeback will obviously affect whether Bellew chooses to wait for him, but this is a rivalry likely to rumble on.
