It’s notoriously difficult to get removed from a no-entry or travel prohibition list. In Tyson Fury’s case, how he’s managed to do so remains unclear. Whether additional concessions were required is anyone’s guess. What does seem possible is that he may have had to cooperate with certain interests along the way, and perhaps that’s simply how the world works.

If there’s one sport that prepares you for the murky realities of politics, it’s boxing. The sport has always been filled with backroom deals, conflicting agendas, and missed opportunities.

The reality is that an Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury fight now seems increasingly unlikely. Not only has the chance to create a truly global event slipped away, but public interest has faded as well. Anthony Joshua doesn’t appear as invested in boxing as he once was, and Fury hardly seems fully committed either. Both men often seem more focused on building their brands than delivering the fight fans have wanted for years.

As boxing fans, we’re left with a familiar feeling: watching the biggest fights fail to materialize until they’re well past their prime, only to be asked to pay premium prices for what remains. A contest that could have defined an era now risks becoming just another example of boxing’s talent for squandering its biggest opportunities.