By Tim Parsons
Tyson Fury’s date with Deontay Wilder for their third clash initially slated for December 19 is off due to football, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told ESPN.
The cancellation leaves the big fight up in the air, though Arum did indicate that the fight could happen earlier that month.
“We’re moving off because there’s five conference championship games that day and night, plus two NFL games,” Arum said. “So we can’t go with the 19th; we’re looking at other dates right now because ESPN advised us, and Fox advised the PBC [which promotes Wilder].”
Arum said he has held talks with ESPN, Fox and PBC to fix a date for the fight which would be held at Allegiant Stadium — where the Las Vegas Raiders play. The stadium will be at limited capacity, and social-distancing guidelines will be enforced.
Fury is expected to be the bookies favourite for the fight after dominating the first meeting which controversially ended in a draw, and winning the second fight by a decisive stoppage to take the WBC belt, which Wilder had held since 2015. Wilder, who is considered the most destructive fighter in the heavyweight division suffered his first defeat that night, and has been training hard for the rematch in a desperate bid to regain his title.
Since the defeat of the American, the boxing world has practically been looking past Wilder, and looking forward to an all British clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, though both men will have to win their upcoming fights to keep that big fight a reality.
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