For a long time, the contracted trilogy fight between WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former title-holder Deontay Wilder seemed destined for December 19, but that date is no longer an option.
Due to a packed College American Football and NFL playoff schedule that day, Fury-Wilder III has to be moved forward rather than back, with the Las Vegas Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium still the proposed venue with a limited number of fans in attendance.
“We’re moving off because there’s five conference championship games that day and night, plus two NFL games,” Top Rank supremo Bob Arum told ESPN’s Steve Kim.
“So we can’t go with [December 19]. We’re looking at other dates right now because ESPN advised us, and Fox advised the PBC [Wilder’s promoter].”
Arum added the bout could be staged: “A little earlier in December. We’re looking at the schedule – PBC, Fox, ESPN and us – to pick a date. It’s definitely Allegiant Stadium. The Raiders are on board, the city is on board, the convention authority is on board. Everybody is on board.”
In December 2018, Fury rose from two knockdowns to outfox Wilder only for the judges to score a draw before the ‘Gypsy King’ proved his superiority with a dominant seventh round win in February.