Former WBC heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder, is set to square up against reigning champ, Tyson Fury for the third time in July.
The arrangement by both boxer automatically casts doubts on Fury’s undisputed heavyweight championship fight against Anthony Joshua billed for August 14.
Wilder and Fury’s first fight in 2018 ended in a split decision but they signed a two-fight deal in 2020 to settle the scores once and for all.
Fury decimated Wilder in what could be regarded as a flawless victory to clinch the WBC heavyweight title but there was uncertainty about the third fight.
However, the Bronzebomber won the right to a third fight after an arbitration ruling halted fight talks between Fury and British champ Anthony Joshua on Monday.
As such, The Wilder and Fury fight could be held as early as July 24 in Las Vegas, ESPN said, adding that August 14 has been set aside as a backup date.
According to Sky Sports, Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) accused Wilder of demanding $20m to step aside and allow him to face Joshua – something the American’s trainer Malik Scott denied – and he told The Athletic on Thursday: “I wouldn’t pay him 20 grand. I’m going to crack his skull wide open this time.”
However, American boxing promoter, Bob Arum, said that Wilder will not step aside from the third fight to allow Fury to face Joshua for the most-anticipated unified heavyweight bout.
“No, there’s no chance that he [Wilder] will step aside. He doesn’t want to step aside, except for a totally preposterous number,” Arum told the Boxing Social.
“The judge said he had a right to a rematch and we’re going to go ahead with it.”
