Tyson Fury says he has “moved on” from Deontay Wilder, but it doesn’t sound like Deontay Wilder has moved on from Tyson Fury.
‘The Gypsy King’ announced on Monday that he would not go through with a trilogy fight against ‘The Bronze Bomber’. Instead he will look to fight another opponent in the UK on Saturday December 5.
Fury it appears had grown frustrated by the inability to put the bout on in 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Fury vs Wilder 2 generated almost $17million via the live gate in February. That is currently unlikely in arenas in the United States.
However Team Wilder have gone on record as saying they are still keen for Fury’s next bout to be against their man.
Wilder still hoping
Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel spoke to ESPN on the back of Fury co-promoter Bob Arum re-iterating Fury’s new plans.
He said: “He’s (Arum) entitled to his opinion, he can think anything he wants.
“Deontay and I would like to have the next fight, as planned, against Fury. We’ll fight him any date, any place.”
If Fury does not fight Wilder next, the chances of the trilogy happening any time soon appear slim.
Assuming both he and Joshua come through their December bouts (Joshua faces Kubrat Pulev on December 12), there is a bigger fish to fry. Namely a unification match next summer. It would likely give both men the biggest payday of their storied careers.
Fury and Wilder of course have fought twice already. Their first bout was a controversial draw in Los Angeles in December 2018.
Lack of live gate a killer
The rematch was a one-sided affair with Fury battering Wilder to a stoppage defeat inside seven rounds. That was the first defeat of Deontay’s professional career (now 42-1-1).
Both men reportedly earned around $25million each for their night’s work in that second bout.
Arum in particular has been consistent in his stance that those kinds of purses would be unlikely without a live gate.
Fury’s potential opponents for his UK homecoming on December 5 appear to be limited.
The only fighters potentially available in the WBC top 15 right now are Oscar Rivas, Michael Hunter, Efe Ajagba, Charles Martin and Agit Kabayel.
