Eddie Hearn reacts to Deontay Wilder v Tyson Fury arbitration ruling!
Just when we all thought that the highly anticipated heavyweight undisputed clash between unified champion Anthony “AJ” Joshua (24-1, 22KOs) and WBC champion “The Gypsy King” Tyson Fury (30-0-1, 21KOs) was going to be announced this week, a monkey wrench was thrown in the way. After months and months of arbitration hearings, a decision was finally made by retired judge Daniel Weinstein. He awarded former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (42-1-1, 41KOs) an opportunity for a third fight with Fury. It would have to take place by September 15, 2021.
The announcement came to the dismay of both the Joshua and Fury camps, who have been entrenched in tension-filled negotiations over the last few months. Fans all over were looking to see this matchup as it would have crowned the true heavyweight king. Instead, we are all left waiting to see if Bob Arum and Frank Warren can convince team Wilder to agree to a step aside fee and allow the fight to happen. This will not be an easy task.
RELATED: Arbitrator Rules That Tyson Fury Must Fight Deontay Wilder!
The man who promotes Joshua, Eddie Hearn, broke his silence on the news in an interview with Matchroom Boxing.
“I’d just got home, nice bit of dinner, put the kids to bed just settled down nice, you know. Just chilled Monday night and then the phone started blowing up. Have you heard this, have you heard this and sometimes you hear speculation. Then Bob Arum calls me. Then all hell breaks loose and you know wanted obviously to speak to them and see the situation. See firstly what could be done, what was real, what wasn’t real, where we stand. And yeah it was a shock to the system. These negotiations have been going on for three or four months now, and we were always assured that this wouldn’t be a problem. It’s a very strange decision from the arbitrator, to say the least. But that’s their business, that’s their responsibility and we have to see now where they go with it.”
It is clear that Hearn is extremely disappointed after being assured that this arbitration case would have no bearing on the fight’s ability to take place. However, it should not come as a surprise. A third fight between Fury and Wilder was written into their contract before their second fight. All in all, this is a headache of a situation to be in for the fighters, promoters and fans who have been savagely craving this showdown.
Maybe Arum can work a miracle and convince Wilder to wait it out and face the winner later in 2021. Knowing him though, he us a guy who likes things done his way, and he has already stated they are not going to pay Wilder a step aside fee. Maybe it is just tongue and cheek pandering and maybe it is not. Regardless, 3kingsboxing.com will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as they become available.
By: Jerrell Fletcher
