Promoter Frank Warren has said that Tyson Fury will fight in the UK in December before facing off against Anthony Joshua in 2021.
Fury had been expected to complete a trilogy match against Deontay Wilder on Dec. 19, but Fury has announced that he has "moved on" from the fight.
The decision comes after he claimed that Wilder’s camp had repeatedly asked for rescheduled dates for their fight, and promoters Warren and Bob Arum have admitted that a fight this year is no longer possible.
Warren explained his decision to British radio station talkSPORT: “Tyson has said enough is enough, he is not going to wait longer and he will fight in London in December.
“That is what will happen. We haven’t finalised who it will be or anything yet, but that is what will happen.
“As far as he is concerned, that contract [with Wilder] is at an end. It can’t go on forever.”
The Queensberry promoter did not lay the blame at Wilder or his team.
“Everybody has worked hard to get the Wilder fight on, but it’s just not happening,” he said.
“It’s not that they [Wilder’s team] have been difficult. We all understand what needs to happen.
“And I’ve said before on this programme, Tyson’s fight back in February with Wilder was the highest grossing heavyweight fight ever in Las Vegas, in terms of gate. So that’s nigh on a $20 million gate; where do we get that from with no crowds? It leaves a massive hole.
“So we are basically looking for a territory or a country to come up with what we call in the business a "site fee" to pay that. But unfortunately, because of the virus and various other problems, it has just not happened so we have got to move on.”
While Warren acknowledged that a Wilder fight could eventually be arranged, his focus is on finding an opponent for the WBC heavyweight in December.
“Maybe next year or some time down the road we will do it, but our immediate job is to get Tyson sorted out for December.
“He has worked hard and has been training constantly, so that’s what will happen. And, what I’m hoping for next year, is we can go straight to the fight with AJ. That’s the fight that everybody in boxing wants to see.”
Fury could fight on Dec. 5 on the Yarde-Arthur card, a week before Joshua is expected to fight Kubrat Pulev.
Once the pair complete their winter obligations, Hearn hopes for a British venue for Fury vs. Joshua: “I would love to do that fight in the UK.
“You know, maybe we have got to get some help to get it together to get it on.”