Anthony Joshua Vs Tyson Fury Under Threat As Arbitrator Orders Fury To Have 3rd Match With Deontay Wilder

By Edna Wande On May 18, 2021

Anthony Joshua Vs Tyson Fury In Serious Doubt As Arbitrator Orders Fury To Have 3rd Match With Deontay Wilder — L-R: Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury is now under serious threat as the latter has been ordered to fight Deontay Wilder for a third time.

Britain’s two heavyweight world champions were all-but-set to meet in an undisputed showdown on August 14 in Saudi Arabia, however this may now not happen after all.

Fury, 32, won WBC world heavyweight title from Wilder in a rematch in February 2020 after an initial draw.

The pair were due to fight again but delays caused by COVID-19 pandemic prompted Fury to seek an alternative.

On Monday, a US judge ruled in mediation that Wilder has a right to face Fury for a third time before September 15.

The American’s team had long argued that their fighter had a contractual right to a third fight with Fury.

But after delays caused by the pandemic led to a July 2020 contest being postponed, Wilder’s team sought to move the bout to 2021.

Fury refused the 2021 date and said he would move on, which prompted mediation overseen by American judge Daniel Weinstein, who has now sided with 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.

He added;

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.

Fury’s US promoters Top Rank was yet to react to this but Top Rank founder Bob Arum told ESPN that Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas has been reserved for a Fury-Wilder fight on 24 July.

Arum stated;

We’re not paying Wilder to step aside. It’s better to get rid of him and go about our business. We can make the Fury-Joshua fight for November or December.

Just 24 hours before Monday’s arbitration hearing, Fury confirmed he had agreed to fight fellow Briton Joshua – holder of IBF, WBA and WBO belts – for all four heavyweight world titles in Saudi Arabia on 14 August.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has also said several times that the August bout was in place, with terms agreed.

The mediation outcome does not necessarily mean a Fury-Joshua fight cannot take place 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.

Warren stated;

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.

Saudi authorities are reportedly putting forward around £106m just to stage Fury-Joshua contest.

Pay-per-view sales and ticket sales will serve to substantially add to the total revenue of the contest.

If it goes ahead, Joshua versus Fury will be the first bout in heavyweight history where all four world titles are on the line.

Just 24 hours earlier, Fury sent the sporting world into a frenzy by declaring that AJ fight was ‘100 per cent on’ for August 14.

Fury said on Sunday: “I’ve got some massive news for you all guys.”

Now these plans are in serious doubt, with the next few days crucial to determining what happens next in the heavyweight division.