Deontay Wilder camp cites Tyson Fury's negligence as reason for postponement
The camp of Deontay Wilder is citing Tyson Fury’s negligence as the reason their fight was postponed.
Their third meeting, set for July 24, has been delayed because Fury tested positive for COVID-19. According to World Boxing News, which cited a “source,” Fury received the first Pfizer vaccine but not the second. In other words, the heavyweight titleholder wasn’t fully vaccinated.
Fury’s camp had indicated during a June 15 news conference that both Wilder and Fury were protected.
“If Tyson Fury and his team did what they should have done and said they had done, this fight would be on and not off,” Fury’s co-manager Shelly Finkel told WBN. “Deontay did what he was supposed to. He got his two Pfizer vaccines, and so did the members of his team.
“He’s ready to go, and this is because Fury did not do what he was supposed to.”
News broke Thursday that a COVID-19 outbreak in Fury’s camp threatened the fight, which was to take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The Athletic reported that as many as 10 people had contracted the virus. WBN reported that at least three others tested positive: assistant trainer Andy Lee, Isaac Lowe (who was scheduled to fight on the undercard) and former heavyweight titleholder Joseph Parker (who is trained by Lee).
A new date for Fury-Wilder III has not been announced, although sources told ESPN that organizers are targeting Oct. 9 at T-Mobile Arena.
Fury was expected to fight Anthony Joshua for the undisputed heavyweight championship this summer in Saudi Arabia but an arbitrator ruled that Fury must honor a rematch clause in the contract for Fury-Wilder II.
Fury and Wilder fought to a draw in December 2018. Fury won the rematch, in February of last year, by seventh-round knockout.