The super fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, a battle that looked agonisingly close to being confirmed at the weekend, seems further away than ever following a ruling that Deontay Wilder is entitled to a third fight with Fury.
The former WBC champion, who was dethroned by Fury in February 2020, has largely been silent since losing his crown but he’s been catapulted back into the bigger picture following Monday’s shocking development.
Frank Warren, a vital member of Fury’s team in his role as U.K. promoter, has stated that his man’s next fight could be a trilogy meeting with Wilder.
“It is really simple now, Tyson now either goes immediately to the fight with Deontay Wilder or we try to reach an accommodation with Wilder,” said the Hall of Fame promoter when appearing on BBC Radio’s Today Show. “To use a phrase in boxing 'step aside' to allow the fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury fight to take place.
'I'm sure he'll (Wilder) want as much as possible but that is going to be about a negotiation if we go down that road. It will cost quite a bit of money. Until we reach an accommodation with Wilder's people, I can't say the fight will definitely happen.”
Warren continued, “We are working hard to get that over the line. We were talking last night. If we can't get it done Tyson will go to the fight with Wilder. They are the only two options. The arbitrator says that Tyson has a contractual commitment and he has to fulfil that. He is tied up legally.
“I expect common sense will prevail so we are going to try and make the fight between AJ and Tyson. That is the fight everyone wants to see. We are going to do our best to get it over the line. That is what everyone has been working towards for a long time now.
“There is a cut-off point one when a decision has to be made and which direction Tyson goes in. I hope Deontay will accept less than $20million (£14m).”