Deontay Wilder v Tyson Fury rematch: WBC 'confident' the fight will take place

Last updated on 20 February 2019.From the section Boxing124

Why Anthony Joshua could benefit from Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder falling through

Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder "owe it to the fans" to make a rematch happen, says WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman.

Although a deal is yet to be agreed, Sulaiman said he was "confident" the fight would take place.

WBC world champion Wilder and Fury, as well as unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, are signed to rival US broadcasters, which could make future negotiations more difficult.

But Sulaiman said: "I know for a fact they want to fight each other again."

A rematch between American Wilder and Britain's Fury has been anticipated since a first meeting in December in which Wilder retained his belt after an enthralling draw in Los Angeles.

The WBC mandated the rematch but has so far resisted imposing a deadline for purse bids, with both parties saying they are close to an agreement.

"They owe it to the fans to make it happen," Sulaiman said.

"We must all do our best to comply, having the fans in mind and them getting the fight they deserve.

"When promoters, fighters or managers go with their own plans is when things get in the way, but I'm confident this fight [will happen]. Fury, Wilder and their teams don't lie. They called me directly and asked for the second fight in a very strong way.

"I will speak with them. Last week, both parties said that they were very close to making a deal for the fight without the need for purse bids."

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124 comments

Comment posted by Betty, at 19:00 20 Feb 2019
This is like a step further than footballers. Imagine if Chelsea spent 3 months debating whether or not to play Man City. Arsenal were happy to play Liverpool but wanted 70% of the revenue. Tottenham would play West Ham, but only if they were guaranteed to be the next team to play Man Utd.

It is ridiculous to let the fighters fix the fights. The WBC has to set the fights so they happen.
Comment posted by Football Jim, at 18:36 20 Feb 2019
The return bout should be on UK soil not in US. Old Trafford,Manchester would be a top venue in the summer.
Comment posted by footyfan94, at 18:37 20 Feb 2019
The problem is not with the fighters, who I truly believe want to challenge themselves and fight the best, but with the Hearn's of this world. Managers who would rather milk their client for long-term profit than risk it all on one fight. Hope to see Wilder, Fury and Joshua all fight each other in the next 2 years but with Hearn and now ESPN in the mix I doubt it.
Comment posted by CaptainSlow81, at 18:29 20 Feb 2019
Failed to mention the real decision makers there Mr Sulaiman... The broadcasters....it unfortunately seems to be up to them now.
Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 18:27 20 Feb 2019
Deontay Wilder v Tyson Fury rematch: WBC 'confident' the fight will take place.

The WBC should impose a deadline for purse bids. Boxing fans want this fight and want honest judges at a neutral venue. The last fight was one of the better heavyweight contests of recent years and a rematch is merited. The fat cat promoters will get their puns of flesh also.
Comment posted by ace9988, at 19:09 20 Feb 2019
You mean the WBC owes it to their fans after their judge’s hopeless decision.
Comment posted by Micron, at 21:16 20 Feb 2019
Nobody want to see this fight, the only fight we are interested in is AJ v Fury or AJ v Wilder. Nothing else. Those who keep handing over £20 for PPV are contributing to the boxing organisations and promoters being able to milk these pointless fights and make fortunes from them. Stop paying for this garbage until the real fight of AJ v Wilder or Fury is made. Everything else is a waste of time.
Comment posted by badger, at 22:01 20 Feb 2019
Yeah sure ….. 'owe it to the fans ' ha ha ha the fans deserved Pac Man Mayweather to but guess what they fought well past their prime so when the fight came it was not the fight is should have been …. Blah Blah Blah …. Best era in Heavyweight scene for 25 years ? if everybody steps aside and lets these guys fight it could be... but for now it is a mess and in danger of being the most boring .
Comment posted by Hunter Stockton , at 21:03 20 Feb 2019
Expect them to milk it as long as they can. Wilder is sitting with his belt still in his hand, and Fury has the publicity he needed.

They'll spend the next six months criticising Joshua for taking on anyone that will fight him, before they start their negotiation on the rematch in earnest.

Neither of them keen to face Joshua, and it shows.
Comment posted by Darron From Devon, at 18:31 20 Feb 2019
Fury got robbed
Comment posted by Fatcobraeb, at 21:24 20 Feb 2019
Really?They owe it to the fans?This shows how outdated and money oriented the WBC is. You undeservedly offered Fury who's been inactive for years a cheap shot at the world title then robbed him of victory. Denied AJ the chance of whooping Wilder and unifying the division by making Fury the mandatory challenger to Wilder. Both Fury & Wilder don't want to box AJ. All Fury sees is $$ & not fight
Comment posted by RealDeal78, at 20:47 20 Feb 2019
Plain and simple, boxing needs to be better regulated. One champion/belt for each weight class, and the champion has to keep defending his belt against the No1 contender until he is either beaten or retires undefeated. The rest fight each other to determine who's No1 contender, and all purses are set fee's based on ranking.

No more of this fighters picking and choosing! SIMPLE!!
Comment posted by firestick, at 23:04 20 Feb 2019
The truth is the WBC is totally powerless in all of this, Bob Arum has already said as much. They are a discredited organisation who've protected Wilder for years
Comment posted by Dev, at 21:41 20 Feb 2019
My Dad saw Joe Louis fight - now he was the real thing. Took on all comers and still holds the record for most defences of his title. Nowadays its all publicity, promotors cuts, tv rights, bla bla bla. There should be a single board of control for all weights so that we cut out these rediculous WBC or WBF bodies. World Champion should mean just that.
Comment posted by Route1, at 20:35 20 Feb 2019
They owe it to the fans to stop taking the p*** on pay per view, and bring boxing back to the masses.
Comment posted by LFC82, at 19:59 20 Feb 2019
No WBC... Your judges owed it to the fans to get it right first time.
Comment posted by smiffi, at 19:30 20 Feb 2019
WBC need to do what other bodies have done. Set a deadline or strip the holder.
Comment posted by Klopps Kop, at 19:00 20 Feb 2019
Hasn’t the WBC ordered the rematch? 65-35% on purse bids.

Just send it to purse bids highest bidder wins .. Dzan, nieither showtime or ESPN will actually show fight.
Comment posted by jtpet84, at 18:26 20 Feb 2019
Another non-announcement. The next article anywhere needs to be confirmation of two out of Fury, Joshua or Wilder fighting
Comment posted by Lubber Clang, at 11:25 21 Feb 2019
Wilder's team don't want it. If he loses his belt he'll struggle to get big fights.

They've steered him away from every risky fight. He only took the first Fury fight because Fury looked poor in his comeback fights.