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Steve KimESPN
One of the proposed dates for the third fight in the trilogy between WBC heavyweight titlist and lineal champion Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder is Dec. 19, Top Rank president Todd duBoef said.
“Us, and the Fury and Wilder camps are targeting that as one of the potential dates,” duBoef said.
A potential site for the fight could be Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Top Rank chief Bob Arum told ESPN.
“We’ve reserved that date for Allegiant Stadium,” Arum said. “The Raiders are playing on that Thursday [Dec. 17], which is perfect. After the game is over, we put up the ring and so forth. We have a couple of days to do it, and Saturday we have the fight.”
The second bout between Fury and Wilder, on Feb. 22 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, produced a live gate of nearly $17 million, which was a significant portion of the revenue for the rematch.
It’s not yet clear whether live audiences will be allowed into sporting events by December, and duBoef said everything is fluid at this moment given the current pandemic.
“We understand [the limitations on crowds], and we’re looking at all the different options that relates to if it’s a larger venue with big spacing or if it’s a normal venue,” duBoef said. “We’re taking all that into consideration.”
After fighting to a split draw in their first meeting in December 2018, Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) dominated Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs) in the rematch, sending him to the canvas twice en route to a seventh-round TKO victory.
After the loss, Wilder questioned his trainer’s decision to throw the towel, leading many to believe that Wilder could make changes in his corner.
“Nothing has happened, yet, in any direction,” Wilder adviser Shelly Finkel told ESPN. “He’s just relaxing. In August he’ll start training. At that point he’ll make some decisions.”
Finkel also confirmed Dec. 19 as a possible date for the third fight.
Wilder has a contractual obligation to a third fight and activated that part of the contract shortly after his loss in February.