Tyson Fury announces multi-million ESPN deal putting Deontay Wilder rematch in doubt

Fury has signed a multi-year multi-fight deal with the US broadcasting giant

Tyson Fury: 'Deontay Wilder is a big, useless dosser'

Tyson Fury has announced a multi-year multi-fight deal with US broadcasting giant ESPN and Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions, throwing a potential rematch with Deontay Wilder into doubt.

Fury will now fight exclusively on ESPN in the States, in a reported £80m deal, while Wilder has a longstanding relationship with rival network Showtime, bringing negotiations between the two camps to a restart.

Fury confirmed that he would like to make his debut on ESPN before the end of May, and is welcome to all challengers.

Frank Warren also confirmed that Billy Joe Saunders will face Shefat Isufi for the WBO super-middleweight world title on 13 April.

Relive all the action from the press conference:

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[18 February 2019 11:44 · Ben Burrows]

Tyson Fury is set to make a surprise appearance at a press conference in London this afternoon.

Details are scarce but with rumours over a rematch with Deontay Wilder swirling whatever is announced promises to be big.

We'll have all the latest right here.

[18 February 2019 12:10 · Ben Burrows]

There's a lot of rumour but not a lot of fact being thrown around as the press conference edges closer.

What we do know is Tyson is in the building and Billy Joe Saunders is with him.

More as we get it, of course.

[18 February 2019 12:18 · Ben Burrows]

  ↵Here we go then.

It is understood Tyson Fury has signed a promotional deal with ESPN and Bob Arum's Top Rank, reportedly worth as much as £80m, leaving hopes of a hotly anticipated rematch with Deontay Wilder in doubt.

The pair's heavyweight blockbuster in December was aired on rival US broadcaster Showtime, who Wilder has worked with exclusively throughout his career.

More here:

[18 February 2019 12:31 · Tom Kershaw]

Tyson Fury has arrived!

[18 February 2019 12:33 · Tom Kershaw]

Fury:

ESPN is the biggest sporting network in the world, combined with BT Sports, so I'll have dual viewers from America and the UK and it gives me an opportunity to be shown to the most people, and be in the position not to be an opponent. They have to come to the Tyson Fury show now.

[18 February 2019 12:34 · Tom Kershaw]

It puts me right on top where I should be and now they're going to have to come through me. 

[18 February 2019 12:36 · Tom Kershaw]

Frank Warren on Wilder rematch:

Tyson wants it, we all want it, and now we've got to make it happen. It's a different situation now, Showtime's not the only game in town, it's changed dramatically and it's up to us now to sit down and get it over the line.

[18 February 2019 12:38 · Tom Kershaw]

Fury:

As far as I'm concerned, the fight is more makeable now than ever because we have the biggest boys in the game behind us and I'm only a fighter. I can only fight who they put in front of me. I want the biggest fights., the Joshuas, the Wilders of the world, and everyone else out there too.

[18 February 2019 12:38 · Tom Kershaw]

If you're watching Deontay, I'm coming for you and this time you can't rip me off.

[18 February 2019 12:39 · Tom Kershaw]

Warren:

Tyson needs to fight. It's what he's training all the time for. He wants to be active and he wants to become a big star. This ESPN deal is one of the biggest deals to ever happen to a British sportsman.