Deontay Wilder is not getting his desired fight with Anthony Joshua, but he will be taking on a compelling opponent later this year.
A news blast was sent out on Friday to alert media members that Wilder and Tyson Fury had signed their contracts to fight on Dec. 1. The venue and ticket information has not yet been released, though Staples Center in Los Angeles appears to be a leading contender to host, along with Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The fight will be broadcast through Showtime pay-per-view. The fighters will embark on a three-stop media tour, going from London to New York to Los Angeles.
Wilder and Joshua is the fight boxing fans want to see, but talks stalled despite Wilder supposedly offering Joshua $50 million. Joshua is signed to Eddie Hearns’ promotional company, which is focused on fulfilling a new deal with streaming service newcomer DAZN.
Instead, Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) secured a fight with Fury. Fury (27-0, 19 KOs) is known for defeating Wladimir Klitschko in 2015. His career was derailed by drug abuse and a PED violation charge, but he returned to the ring in 2018 and is looking to win his third fight of the year.
This will be Wilder’s toughest challenge yet. Though his record is impressive, he has been criticized for the lack of quality opponent he has faced.
The fight might not bring Wilder closer to facing Joshua, but it should tell fans more about how good he really is.
