Deontay Wilder isn’t giving up on a third fight with Tyson Fury.
Wilder has initiated the mediation process in attempt to enforce a rematch clause from their second fight in February, according to The Athletic. Fury won the second fight by seventh-round knockout.
The process, overseen by a retired judge, was set to begin this week.
“We’re going into it very optimistically this week,” Wilder’s co-manager, Shelly Finkel, told The Athletic.
Wilder exercised the rematch option shortly after the fight. However, after several delays, Fury decided to move on. He plans to fight on Dec. 5, possibly against Agit Kabayel of Germany.
Fury’s representatives have said that the contracted time period for a rematch has expired.
Meanwhile, Fury reiterated to The (London) Telegraph that he will never fight Wilder again after his rival claimed he loaded his gloves for their fights.
“Deontay Wilder has tried to bring my character down with the bulls— he’s said,” Fury said. “If I was like the rest of the world, I’d probably sue him for defamation for about $100 million, but I’m not really interested in doing that type of thing.
“He’ll never get a shot at me — finished, never — for what he’s said.”
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