Sport

Fury’s title defence against Wilder postponed until October

British WBC world champion recently tested positive for coronavirus

Deontay Wilder is caught by a right hand from Fury during their drawn first fight in Los Angeles in December 2018. Fury went on to defeat Wilder in February last year with a seventh-round knockout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Photograph: Tom Hogan/Inpho

Thu Jul 15 2021 - 20:20

Tyson Fury's world heavyweight title defence against Deontay Wilder, originally scheduled for July 24th, has officially been postponed.

A positive coronavirus test for the 32-year-old has forced the trilogy fight to be rearranged for October 9th, it was confirmed by Fury’s US-based promoter Top Rank on Thursday.

It was reported last week that Fury had contracted Covid-19 and it means another delay before he can put his WBC title on the line in a third meeting with Wilder.

A court ruling in May forced Fury to ditch an immediate bout with Anthony Joshua and instead face his American rival again, having first fought Wilder in December 2018, when a controversial draw verdict was recorded at the Staples Center. Fury defeated Wilder in February last year with a seventh-round knockout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

READ MORE

It ended the unbeaten run of the 35-year-old from Alabama, who had won all of his 40 contests before he met the Wythenshawe boxer in the ring for the first time. Neither fighter has been in action since their last meeting in 2020 and this latest delay means it will have been almost 20 months since they stepped into the ring when they go toe-to-toe.

LATEST STORIES