Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
***
Promoter Frank Warren has said that Tyson Fury will fight in the U.K. in December before facing off against Anthony Joshua in 2021.
Fury had been expected to face Deontay Wilder a third time on Dec. 19, but Fury has announced that he has “moved on” from the fight.
The decision comes after he claimed that Wilder’s camp had repeatedly asked for postponements and Fury co-promoters Warren and Bob Arum said that a fight this year is no longer possible.
Warren explained his decision in a radio interview with talkSPORT.
“Tyson has said enough is enough, he is not going to wait longer and he will fight in London in December,” he said. “That is what will happen. We haven’t finalized who it will be or anything yet, but that is what will happen.
“As far as he is concerned, that contract [with Wilder] is at an end. It can’t go on forever.”
The Queensberry promoter did not lay the blame at Wilder or his team.
“Everybody has worked hard to get the Wilder fight on, but it’s just not happening,” he said. “It’s not that [Wilder’s team] have been difficult. We all understand what needs to happen.
“And I’ve said before on this program, Tyson’s fight back in February with Wilder was the highest grossing heavyweight fight ever in Las Vegas, in terms of gate. So that’s nigh on a $20 million gate; where do we get that from with no crowds? It leaves a massive hole.
“So we are basically looking for a territory or a country to come up with what we call in the business a “site fee” to pay that. But unfortunately, because of the virus and various other problems, it has just not happened. So we have got to move on.”
While Warren acknowledged that a Wilder fight could eventually be arranged, his focus is on finding an opponent for Fury in December.
“Maybe next year or some time down the road we will do it, but our immediate job is to get Tyson sorted out for December,” Warren said.
“He has worked hard and has been training constantly, so that’s what will happen. And, what I’m hoping for next year, is we can go straight to the fight with A.J. That’s the fight that everybody in boxing wants to see.”
Fury could fight on Dec. 5 on the Anthony Yarde-Lyndon Arthur card, a week before Joshua is expected to fight Kubrat Pulev.
[lawrence-related id=14634,14414]