‘Again, he did wrong and I’m the one being penalised’: Deontay Wilder’s furious reaction to Tyson Fury’s positive Covid test – which has led to their trilogy bout being postponed until October and American scrambling around for next opponent
- Wilder has reacted angrily to the postponement of his trilogy fight set for July 24
- Fury tested positive for coronavirus two weeks away from his bout versus Wilder
- The Gypsy King’s team initially denied the reports and hoped it would go ahead
- British boxer Dillian Whyte is ready to step in and fight Wilder, says Eddie Hearn
Deontay Wilder has reacted angrily after his highly anticipated trilogy fight against Tyson Fury was postponed due to Fury testing positive for coronavirus.
Sportsmail reported yesterday that Fury versus Wilder III is off after the Brit’s Covid-19 diagnosis, along with three members of his camp, meaning the bout will probably be delayed until early October.
And The Athletic boxing writer Lance Pugmire tweeted that the ‘Bronze Bomber’ said to his manager Shelly Finkel that he felt it was another problem caused by Fury.
Deontay Wilder has reacted angrily after his trilogy fight against Tyson Fury was postponed
The fight between Fury (left) and Wilder is off after the Gypsy King tested positive for Covid-19
Pugmire’s tweet said: ‘After winning arbitration over @Tyson_Fury when the champion sought to fight @anthonyjoshua instead of finishing his trilogy, @BronzeBomber is beside himself after this delay.
”Again now, he did wrong and I’m the one being penalized,’ Wilder told his manager Shelly Finkel.’
The fight was initially due to take place in the T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip on July 24, roughly two weeks after the announcement that it would be postponed.
Fury, now WBC world champion, has not fought since beating Wilder in February 2020
Fury’s highly anticipated undisputed title fight against Anthony Joshua (right) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia set for December could now be delayed further if his bout against Wilder is affected
Fury had initially agreed to fight fellow Brit Anthony Joshua in a gargantuan heavyweight clash for the undisputed championship, before Wilder successfully forced him to abandon those plans when a court arbitration ruled Wilder was entitled to a third fight, meaning Fury v Joshua was scrapped.
This delay plunges into disarray the already much-delayed plans for Fury and his rival world heavyweight title holder Joshua to meet; an October fall-back date, also in Vegas, will rule out any chance of Fury facing Joshua in a predicted December showdown in Saudi Arabia.
Eddie Hearn responded to the news, claiming that Dillian Whyte is ready to step in on July 24
The Gypsy King and AJ were finally scheduled to meet in Riyadh this mid-winter, assuming Fury beat Wilder and Joshua repelled mandatory challenger for his belts, Oleksandr Usyk, in Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium in September, but fans will now fear the clash is less likely to happen.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, responded to the news of Fury’s withdrawal on social media, stating that WBC interim title holder Dillian Whyte is prepared to step in on short notice to face the Bronze Bomber.
‘Spoke to @DillianWhyte – he is due to fight end of August but ready to jump in July 24 v Wilder,’ the Matchroom boxing chief tweeted.