Plans for the contracted trilogy fight between WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former title-holder Deontay Wilder appear to be taking a more concrete form.
After numerous delays caused by the intervention of the Covid-19 Pandemic, Fury-Wilder III is now being targeted for the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on December 19.
The new, 65,000 capacity, domed stadium is home to the Las Vegas Raiders after the NFL franchise officially moved across the state line from Los Angeles, California, earlier this year. The stadium will make its sporting debut with a Monday Night Football game between the Raiders and the New Orleans Saints on September 21.
“That’s what we’re moving ahead on, on all fronts, with the security, with the virus, and everything,” Top Rank supremo Bob Arum told ESPN.com’s Steve Kim. “We’re talking with everybody here in town, with the Raiders. So we’re optimistic that we’ll be able to do the event in Nevada, in Las Vegas.”
It is hoped that 10,000 to 15,000 socially distanced fans will be in attendance, reliant on the ever-shifting Covid-19 situation.
After a controversial draw in their first encounter, a bout Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) appeared to win despite suffering two knockdowns, the ‘Gypsy King’ trounced Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs) in seven rounds in their February rematch with 17,698 fans in attendance.
Wilder immediately exercised his right to a contracted third fight before the Coronavirus pushed that encounter to the end of the year.
A lot rests on the clash with Fury having already agreed a two-fight series with WBA Super, WBO and IBF champion Anthony Joshua in principle.
Main image: Fury drops and dominates Wilder in their February 2020 sequel. Photo: Ryan Hafey, Premier Boxing Champions.