Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on DAZN.com.
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Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder could go from wrapping their hands to wrapping gifts this year.
The third and presumably last fight between Wilder and Fury could take place in the United States, per Top Rank, with a potential date of Dec. 19 in Las Vegas, less than a week before Christmas.
“We’ve reserved that date for Allegiant Stadium,” Top Rank head man Bob Arum said via ESPN. “The Raiders are playing on that Thursday (Dec. 17), which is perfect. After the game is over, we put up the ring and so forth. We have a couple of days to do it, and Saturday we have the fight.”
The third fight between Fury and Wilder has hit a few snags along the way, predominantly the coronavirus pandemic, which has shut down the sports world at large since March. With potentially no gate to help generate revenue, Top Rank is considering all avenues to stage the fight.
“We understand [the limitations on crowds], and we’re looking at all the different options that relates to if it’s a larger venue with big spacing or if it’s a normal venue,” Top Rank president Todd duBoef said. “We’re taking all that into consideration.”
Arum and Top Rank have looked overseas for a possible venue, with China, Australia and Saudi Arabia all on the table if it’s not feasible to hold live events with crowds in the United States by December.
At present, Nevada’s coronavirus cases are currently spiking, with more than 19,000 total cases of the virus.
An events promoter recently made a pitch for Australia to play host to the bout, with a potential Christmas Day showdown date bandied about. Both Fury-Wilder bouts happened stateside, with Los Angeles’ Staples Center hosting the first fight and the second bout making its way to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Fury currently holds the upper fist in the feud between the mammoth heavyweights, securing a seventh-round TKO in the duo’s last bout in February. Their first fight ended in a controversial split draw in December 2018.
Boxing events are slowly returning. Vergil Ortiz vs. Samuel Vargas is set for July 24 on DAZN.
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