Looks like Fury-Joshua will just be one fight (not two) - Fury-Wilder III first?

Sky Sports reports it's a one-fight deal now. Not two.

https://www.skysports.com/boxing/ne...-lets-get-this-done-its-the-only-fight-i-want

But Frank Warren says Fury is fighting this summer, regardless. Could we see Fury-Wilder III first in June/July or later this year?

https://www.the-sun.com/sport/2769999/frank-warren-joshua-fury-saudi-fight/

Wilder in fighting shape.

https://cdn-wbn.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/deontay-wilder-malik-scott-2021.jpg

 

Per Dan Rafael at the scene ... posted three hours ago:

BY DAN RAFAEL
Published Mon Apr 26, 2021, 09:09 PM EDT

A frustrated Top Rank chairman Bob Arum on Monday said that he would not be surprised if plans for the all-British undisputed heavyweight championship fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, in the works for late July or early August in Saudi Arabia, fall apart and that Fury next winds up facing former world titleholder Deontay Wilder for the third time.

“Maybe we’ll breathe some life into Wilder, and Fury will fight Wilder and Joshua will fight (WBO mandatory challenger Oleksandr) Usyk,” said Arum.

Arum said that he had been bullish on Fury-Joshua being finalized because Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, Joshua's promoter, who has spearheaded the talks with a group from Saudi Arabia, promised that the site deal would be done last week.

But Arum said Hearn has gone “radio silent.”

“Eddie Hearn is busy trying to sell the London Bridge,” Arum said. “Let me tell you – last time I talked to Eddie was early last week and he said he was going to have a signed agreement from the Saudis in 24 hours. Well, he’s a little late. Wouldn’t you be pessimistic if you haven’t heard from him or anybody for a week? We’re the promoter with Frank (Warren) of Fury and we haven’t heard from Eddie in a week.”

Hearn has said he has secured a $150 million site fee from a group in Saudi Arabia that would pick one of three dates -- July 24, July 31 or Aug. 7 – to put the fight on at a site of their choice in the country. Arum said that he was told the likely site would be a new indoor stadium in Jeddah, although he is now not sure the deal will push through.

Arum has long been skeptical of offers from overseas, typically telling reporters when the topic is broached about a major fight that “I’m not packing my bags yet.” That is a reference to needing to make sure the offer and money are legitimate.

Asked about the offer to have Fury-Joshua in Saudi Arabia and if he was getting ready to pack his bags, last week he firmly said, “Yes.”

Asked again on Monday, Arum was singing a different tune.

“They’re not packed,” Arum said.

Warren has also been skeptical of Hearn’s ability to deliver the site deal, telling TalkSport in the United Kingdom, “Look, every day I’m being told -- it’s like, ‘It’s in the post.’ It’s not arrived and that’s where we are. I’ll believe it when I see it. We’re being told it’ll be here. I know Tyson’s had enough of hanging around. He wants to fight in June or July and that’s what will happen if this thing doesn’t get resolved very quickly.”

Arum said that while Hearn had sent him and Warren a contract outlining the terms of the site deal it was not binding.

“We got a document and they said it wasn’t binding. We said it has to be binding and we haven’t heard back from them. It says in (the paperwork) it this is not a binding agreement,” Arum said.

“Eddie sent me the draft but it was not a binding agreement and it was supposed to be turned into a binding agreement in 24 hours and Frank and I haven’t spoken to Eddie since. He’s gone radio silent.”

 

First fight was a draw and Wilder successfully defended his title (another ref, and Wilder gets the KO in round 12). Fury won the return straight up. Both fighters have floored each other twice. Last fight broke the gate receipt record in Nevada. (And ESPN on-air personalities and podcasters in the U.S. continue to talk about believing Fury cheated in the return fight.) A third fight would be a big seller in the U.S.

They have already signed contracts to fight, the bout just got pushed further and further back due to covid. If Fury fought Joshua, Fury's team knows (and they have stated) they'll have to pay Wilder damages. Both fighters have been out for the same amount of time, so no advantage for either there. Both are fit. Best just to honor the contract, fight Wilder (so you don't have to pay him damages) and fight Joshua later in the year if it can be put together then.

That is, if Fury is still the Ring/WBC champ after fight three. (LOL)

Instead of two Fury-Joshua fights this year, we may just get Fury-Wilder III and Wilder-Joshua for all the belts.

LOL ... the British fans would never forgive Wilder for that.