An arbitrator has ruled in favour of a third fight between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder to take place by September 15 2021, according to reports in the Daily Star.
The news comes just a day after WBC Heavyweight world champion, Fury took to social media to announce that he would be fighting unified WBA ‘Super’, WBO, IBF and IBO titlist, Anthony Joshua for the undisputed title on August 14 in Saudi Arabia, which has put the clash in fresh doubt.
Fury dethroned Wilder in seven stunning rounds in their rematch Las Vegas in February 2020 to claim the WBC title, following a draw in their first outing in Los Angeles in December 2018.
‘The Bronze Bomber’ exercised his right to a trilogy with the Brit, however the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic put paid to a summer meeting.
A further date in December was shelved due to a number of college football games falling at the same time.
Fury’s team insisted that the timeframe for a third fight had passed and the ‘Gypsy King’ pressed ahead for a UK homecoming last December which failed to materialise.
🚨 BREAKING: FURY-WILDER 3️⃣ ORDERED
🥊 An arbitrator has ruled in favour of a trilogy between @BronzeBomber & @Tyson_Fury to take place by September 15 2021 (@cmckennasport)
🤔 An undisputed Heavyweight title fight between Fury & @anthonyjoshua in serious doubt#Boxing pic.twitter.com/Hc3IkyHnZS
— Pro Boxing Fans (@ProBoxingFans) May 17, 2021
Wilder’s team used the “dispute resolution provision” in the contract to take their case to mediation, which was followed by binding arbitration.
In the midst of the ongoing arbitration case, Fury and Joshua had signed contracts for a two-fight deal this year and were seemingly on the verge of securing a colossal site fee of up to $150m from Saudi Arabia, as reported by Mark Kriegel.
However, according to the Daily Star, retired judge Daniel Weinstein has examined the case and on Monday ruled that Wilder and Fury must fight for a third time by September 15 2021.
The arbitrator in the Fury and Wilder case has ruled for a third fight between the pair. Meaning the Joshua fight is in serious doubt for this summer. Unsure if there is a further resolution to this as legal teams still in discussions.https://t.co/jNCjU61XXL
— Chris McKenna (@cmckennasport) May 17, 2021
It is unclear at this stage what the impact is on a proposed undisputed clash between Joshua and Fury, with an announcement appearing imminent, but it will throw the showdown into serious doubt.
Joshua saw off IBF mandatory challenger, Kubrat Pulev in nine rounds in December and the WBO since cooled their mandatory demands for a clash with Oleksandr Usyk, who had been ordered to face Joe Joyce for the interim title.
