Fans awaiting the trilogy fight between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury may have to wait a bit longer. Multiple media sources report the likely delay is due to a Covid-19 outbreak within the Tyson Fury camp. The original date for the fight was July 24 in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena.
The hotly anticipated fight is the third in a series that began in December 2018. The two men fought the first fight to a draw. Deontay Wilder almost ended the contest by knockout in the 12th round. But a semi-conscious Fury somehow beat the ten count from the referee. Wilder fans felt Fury benefitted from a long count. Fury supporters argued that he won the fight on points.
Tyson Fury dominated the second fight from the opening bell to the seventh-round stoppage. Shortly after the contest, Wilder and fans complained that Fury enjoyed several unfair advantages. The most serious allegations include claims Fury carried a foreign object into the ring and the drugging of Deontay Wilder.
The Covid scare is the latest in several hurdles that nearly prevented a scheduled fight. The current problem renews fears among some in the boxing community that the fight will never happen. Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury scheduled the third fight only after intense legal proceedings and an arbitrator’s ruling.
Top Rank boxing has made no official announcement regarding a fight postponement. An official statement released by the company explained they are closely monitoring the situation. But sources close to the situation say that promoters are already scrambling to find fight dates later this year.
Bob Arum added to fan confusion by saying Tyson Fury received a complete vaccination against the Covid virus. Arum gave the statement more than a week ago while responding to the Teofimo Lopez covid postponement. Arum also said Wilder and both fighter’s corners received covid vaccinations.