WBC Heavyweight Champions Tyson Fury (L) and Deontay Wilder (R) meet during the press conference for the WBC Heavyweight Championship at Novo by Microsoft at LA Live on June 15, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Mikey Williams / Top Rank Inc | Getty Images Sports | Getty Images
According to reports in the US, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder’s upcoming fight will be postponed until October due to a Covid-19 outbreak at Camp des Champions.
The trilogy fight for Fury’s WBC heavyweight championship was scheduled for three weeks on July 24th in Las Vegas.
ESPN first reported Thursday that the fight would be delayed due to a Covid-19 outbreak, but Top Rank, the US-based promoter of Fury, said in a statement, “We continue to monitor the health of Tyson and his team as well the status of the event has not changed until today. “
Wilder’s team did not comment when asked by Sky Sports.
The Athletic reported Friday morning that “at least 10” people at Fury’s gym in Vegas have infected Covid-19.
Fury himself tested positive for Covid-19, ESPN report.
Joseph Parker, the former WBO heavyweight champion, also trained alongside Fury, but his manager David Higgins told Sky Sports, “Joseph has no Covid.”
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Dillian Whyte would be available and ready to replace Fury and fight Wilder on July 24, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.
Fury’s delay against Wilder means Anthony Joshua will now step between the ropes ahead of his two main rivals in the division.
Joshua will defend his IBF, WBA and WBO titles against Oleksandr Usyk on September 25th in London.
Although talks about hosting Joshua vs Fury for the undisputed title failed, there was optimism that the dream fight could be rectified this year if both of them make their next defenses.
Now that Fury’s comeback has been postponed to October, any hope of seeing him fight Joshua in 2021 is gone.
Neither 32-year-old Fury nor 35-year-old Wilder have returned to the ring since their second fight in February 2019.
Fury stopped Wilder and ended his title reign and unbeaten record after a dramatic draw in the first duel.
Wilder wore headphones to block out Fury’s taunts when they met at a recent press conference.
The American has fundamentally changed his team – he fired Mark Breland, the coach who threw in the towel to end the second fight with Fury. He has named former opponent Malik Scott as his new coach, which means Jay Deas has been demoted.
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