Anthony Joshua v Tyson Fury in doubt after Fury ordered to fight 3 with Wilder
There is growing doubt that the Anthony Joshua super bout with Tyson Fury will go ahead, after Fury was ordered to fight Deontay Wilder for a third time.
In February 2020, Fury won the WBC world heavyweight title from Wilder in a rematch after an initial draw.
They were set to fight again but the pandemic caused delays and Fury went on to seek an alternative.
But a US judge has ruled in mediation that Wilder has a right to face Fury for a third time before 15 September.
Wilder’s team argued their fighter had a contractual right to a third fight with Fury.
The pandemic led to a July 2020 contest being postponed and Wilder’s team seeking to move the fight to 2021.
Wilder v Fury
Fury refused the 2021 date and said he would move on. But his decision promoted mediation, overseen by an American judge, who sided with fellow American Wilder and set a 15 September deadline for a third contest.
“Until we can reach an accommodation with Deontay Wilder’s people, I can’t say that [Fury’s fight with Joshua] will definitely happen,” Fury’s promoter Frank Warren told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme.
“But we are working hard to get that over the line. We were talking last night and hopefully we can do that. If not then Tyson, if he wishes, will go to the fight with Wilder. They’re the only two options.”
One day before the arbitration hearing, Fury has agreed to fight fellow Brit Anthony Joshua for all four heavyweight world titles in Saudi Arabia on 14 August.
The judge’s decision doesn’t mean a Fury-Joshua fight cannot happen in August but fresh deals will now need to be struck for it to do so.
That could mean Wilder being offered money to allow Fury-Joshua to take place.
“It’ll cost quite a bit of money. He will want as much as possible so I think it’ll be about the negotiation if we go down that road,” said Warren.
If it goes ahead, Joshua versus Fury will be the first bout in heavyweight history where all four world titles are on the line.
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