Deontay Wilder has officially exercised his right to a trilogy bout with Tyson Fury, following his seventh-round technical knockout defeat last month.
The heavyweight pair tussled in a rematch last February 23 in front of a sold-out MGM Grand Garden Arena crowd, with the Ring, Lineal, and WBC heavyweight titles up for grabs.
Anticipated as a barnburner clash, ‘The Gypsy King’ turned it into a one-sided affair, dominating Wilder using a disciplined offense that floored the American champ twice for the first time in his career.
While there are calls for a unification bout with Anthony Joshua, the heavyweight star who currently holds the WBA, IBO, IBF, and WBO belts, both Fury and Wilder’s camps have said a third fight is taking place later this year.
Now, boxing promoter Bob Arum has confirmed that Wilder has triggered the rematch clause in his contract.
Summer Return
In a recent interview with Ringside Reporter, the Top Rank CEO shared: “Wilder and his representatives formally notified us last night that they have accepted the rematch and are going forward.”
“It’s going to happen in the summer, before the Olympics. Middle of July.”
According to Arum, the tentative date for the trilogy fight is on July 18, with the MGM Grand Garden Arena still playing host to this blockbuster fight.
“I told Eddie Hearn, I said “Stop looking at a Tyson Fury fight this year. You’ve got to fight Pulev in June, and Joshua is going to get knocked on his arse.”
“I guarantee you that Pulev will knockout Joshua like Tyson Fury knocked out Wilder.”
Worthwhile
Arum is setting his sights on a unification bout by the end of year but he wants his talents, Fury and Kubrat Pulev, to unify the heavyweight titles.
“So yes, I will look to make a Pulev-Fury fight to unify all the belts by the end of the year, but Mr. Hearn will have nothing to do with it.”
“Sure, absolutely, to have a heavyweight champion that holds all the belts. And I think it’s a worthwhile thing for boxing.”
“And if Joshua beats Pulev and Fury beats Wilder, then why not do a Joshua-Fury fight at the end of the year.”
“And we would certainly then sit with Eddie and work it out. So everybody is saying the same thing.”
“But again, these fights have to play out first.”
(Featured Image Source: Instagram/ Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder)