Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury’s mega heavyweight bout billed for 14 August in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been left hanging in the balance after a United States-based Judge ordered the latter to honour his contractual agreement for a trilogy with Deontay Wilder.
The Bronze Bomber suffered a seventh round TKO defeat in the hands of the Gypsy King, in a rematch in February 2020, with their initial bout unable to produce a winner.
A third bout was being lined up afterwards, but the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as Wilder’s injury issues, meant it was pushed back several times, prompting Fury’s camp to forge ahead and explore other options, believing that the contract had lapsed.
Wilder’s camp, who had long been adamant that the Birmingham Alabama-born fighter was within his rights to demand for a third fight, reacted by activating the dispute resolution provision within the contract, filing for legal arbitration. And Daniel Weinstein – the arbitrator presiding over the case – has now reportedly set a September 15 deadline for the bout to take place after siding with the American.
So far, none of the three fighters’ camps have uttered a word on the issue yet and there are no guarantees whether Wilder will accept a financial settlement for the all-British heavyweight unification bout to take place on August 14, or if a trilogy between Fury and Wilder will be forced to happen by a legal injunction.
Fury had confirmed via his Twitter account – just 24 hours prior to Monday’s hearing – that he was set to go neck and neck with compatriot Joshua in Saudi Arabia on 14 August, for what would go down as one of the most significant fights in the history of British boxing.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn has also said severally that a bout between his client and Fury was all but set, after both camps agreed terms.
Authorities in Saudi are reportedly preparing around £106m to bring the Fury-Joshua bout to the middle eastern nation, with ticket and pay-per-view sales set to substantially increase the bout’s total revenue.
Whenever it gets a go-ahead, Fury against Joshua will mark the first time where all four heavyweight titles will be contested.
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