An Update On the Heavyweight Soap Opera That is Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder
3KingsBoxing had previously reported the July 24 trilogy between WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) and former WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs) was in serious jeopardy. The reason was an apparent COVID-19 outbreak within the training camp of Fury. We now have an update. According to ESPN, Tyson Fury has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. As a result, the upcoming fight against Wilder has been postponed.
Along with Fury, three other members within his training camp have tested positive for the virus. They are assistant trainer Andy Lee and camp member Isaac Lowe. Former WBO world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker also tested positive for COVID-19. Parker had also been working with the champ.
Fury v Wilder III was to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Now, Fury will head back to his native England to recover. The fight will be rescheduled, with October 9 being the target as the new date at the same venue.
HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING’S DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Much of the sport in 2020 was on hold due to this pandemic. Unfortunately, this virus continues to impact the sport. It’s the latest chapter in the ongoing saga between Fury and Wilder. This has become the sport’s equivalent of a soap opera.
They initially fought in December of 2018. The then-WBC heavyweight champion escaped with a disputed draw. A rematch took place in February 2020, with Fury capturing the WBC belt with a dominant seventh-round TKO.
Fury was looking to move on in hopes of a showdown against fellow Brit and unified IBF/WBA “Super”/WBO World heavyweight belt holder Anthony Joshua. All things pointed towards a super-fight in August of 2021.However, arbitrator Daniel Weinstein ruled that Fury must grant Wilder a contractually obligated third fight, canceling any plans for Fury v Joshua.
So, with the public accepting that Fury would fight Wilder next, the man nicknamed Gypsy King has now contracted COVID-19.
STAY ON TOP OF EVERYTHING
Hope is that the champ is okay, but here’s the thing. With so much at stake and so many testing positive, how did this happened? One would think that all parties involved would have been extra careful. It looks like Team Fury was not on their p’s and q’s. With multiple members testing positive, this borders on negligence. As a result, the fans’ emotional heartstrings are getting tugged, once again!
Will this drama ever end? Only time will tell. Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our boxing lives. Stay tuned to 3KingsBoxing for the latest development on the story that seems to have no ending any time soon.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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