Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder: WBC order immediate heavyweight rematch

The governing body has given the two fighter's respective camps until February 5 to come to an agreement

Tom Kershaw
Wednesday 16 January 2019 19:31 GMT
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Tyson Fury update on the Wilder rematch

The WBC has officially ordered a rematch between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder, drawing an end to the convoluted saga of negotiations between boxing’s heavyweight triumvirate.

After Fury and Wilder’s controversial draw in December, the governing body has now voted to order an immediate rematch with the right to host the bout going to a purse bid unless an agreement can be reached between the two camps before February 5.

It’s believed Fury and Wilder’s team are likely to come to a deal before that date, with the most likely destination for the rematch being at a venue in Las Vegas.

Fury’s camp had reportedly been keen to stage a rematch in the UK, due to anger over the judging in the US, however, any possibility of the fight coming to Britain now looks remote.

A statement released by the governing body on Wednesday read: “Consistent with the WBC Board of governors voting regarding the direct rematch between WBC champion Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury, the WBC is hereby notifying both camps that the free negotiation period is opened and if there is no agreement between the parties a purse bid will be conducted by the WBC on Tuesday February 5th .

“The WBC has modified the 70-30 split and has confirmed a 60-40 split in favour of the champion Wilder considering the market value of Fury.”

Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has become increasingly resigned to the prospect that the rematch between Fury and Wilder would take place next, after revealing that his attempts to negotiate with Wilder’s team had been repeatedly left without a response.

It’s believed a rematch with Dillian Whyte at Wembley on April 13 or a Stateside debut in New York against Brooklyn behemoth Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller are now Joshua’s two foremost options.

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