Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder have a date and location to bring an end to their trilogy.
In theory.
The two heavyweights have been awaiting a verdict on when they could finish their saga, with Fury having defeated Wilder in February earlier this year. While they were aiming for a contest in July, the coronavirus pandemic brought an end to those plans, and now it seems we will have to wait until the end of the year.
Per the Las Vegas Review Journal, the new Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas has been reserved for December 19 by Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
“That is the date that we all want,” Arum told the Review. “That’s the date that both sides are happy with. Whether we’ll be able to do it in the stadium with limited seating, that’s in the hands of the gods.”
It could well be the first combat sports event in the new $2 billion stadium, which could seat around 20,000 fans. That is, of course, presuming Covid-19 allows such gatherings or travel at that point.
The ability to hold Fury-Wilder III is essentially based on the gate brought in by the crowd, with their second contest setting a Nevada record for heavyweights with $16,916,440. Fury famously commands a large travelling British contingent to his fight, but it will be interesting how that turnout will be affected by both Covid-19 and Fury’s dominance over Wilder in their previous fight.
In Arum’s mind, the name value of both men will shine through.
“Whenever they fight, I think it’s going to be a huge type of attraction, and to do it as the first fight at Allegiant Stadium would be something really special,” Arum said.
