Former unified world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury returns to the ring on August 18, however, he is already looking ahead to a potential fight with WBC world champion Deontay Wilder.
Fury, 29, posted a video on his personal Twitter account where he said that negotiations with Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) are “very strong” and the heavyweight matchup might be happening this upcoming December.
“I can confirm that me and [Deontay] Wilder are in negotiations — very close to being done,” Fury said.
Fury (26-0, 19 KOs) will first have to get passed Francesco Pianeta on August 18, which he is likely to do. The 32-year-old Wilder was attempting to secure a bout with fellow world champion Anthony Joshua after his [Wilder’s] dramatic knockout of Luis Ortiz, but Joshua instead will be fighting the Russian Alexander Povetkin.
This fight (Wilder-Fury) had some steam in 2016 when Fury entered the ring after Wilder’s victory over Artur Szpilka in New York. But, nothing came about as a result and Wilder remained active while Fury still remained sidelined until this past June.
Wilder essentially beat the third best heavyweight in the world in Ortiz and has been left with limited options in terms of competition. A fight with Fury or a rematch with Ortiz are the most prominent matchups which could not only be made for Wilder, but for Fury and Ortiz, as well.
“You’ve been dealing with sh******** in the past with Eddie Hearn and Joshua,” Fury said to Wilder in his social media video. “But, I am a man of me word and if I say I’ll fight, I’ll fight you. End of. Prepare well, train hard and let’s get the deal done.”
