After an arbitrary decision ordering that ordered the third installment of Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder, the date has been finalized for July 24 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The events leading up to this bout being signed are turbulent to say the least. Prior to their first fight in December 2018, Deontay Wilder was riding high as WBC Heavyweight champion coming off his seventh successful title defense against Luis Ortiz.
Meanwhile, Tyson Fury was returning to the sport of boxing after a three-year absence due to mental health and substance issues. This was his first world title bout since November 2015 when he beat Wladimir Klitschko dethroning his nine-year reign as unified heavyweight champion.
Their first bout would end in a split decision draw despite many believing Tyson Fury deserved to be awarded a decision victory.
After two more successful title defenses, Wilder granted Fury a rematch that went down in February 2020. In that bout, Fury shocked the world giving Wilder a clinical beating that forced the former’s corner to throw in the towel.
As a result of his corner’s actions, Wilder fired his head trainer and former welterweight champion Mark Breland. A rematch was contracted to take place, however, Tyson Fury and his team believed the rematch clause had expired and announced he would move on from the fight. On the other hand, Deontay Wilder and his team thought otherwise leading them to taking legal action with a decision to be made by an arbitration judge.
In the midst of the mediation process, Tyson Fury began negotiations with unified IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua for a fight to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion. The fight would be signed on May 17 with Tyson Fury himself announcing that the bout was official set to take place August 14 in Saudi Arabia.
However, hours later, it was announced that an arbitration judge ruled in favor of Deontay Wilder saying he was obligated for a third fight against Tyson Fury.
The winner of this fight will almost certainly be in line for a unification bout against Anthony Joshua. However, Joshua himself is reportedly set to step back in the ring some time this year also in a clash against mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk.