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Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury were set for a “super” fight on Aug. 14, 2021, in Saudi Arabia that would have unified the Heavyweight championship belts and likely broken all records for pay-per-view (PPV).
“This is gonna be the biggest sporting event ever to grace the planet Earth,” Fury said on social media while trumpeting the fact that the fight was “100 percent on.”
Unfortunately, Fury didn’t factor in the possibility of an arbitrator ruling in Deontay Wilder’s favor regarding a rematch clause cooked into their 2020 fight contract. Fury’s management was sure the clause had expired. The arbitrator obviously factored in the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic and said Fury must face Wilder by mid-September or be in breach of contract.
So bye-bye Aug. 14 in Saudi Arabia. Bye-bye $155 million site fee the Saudis were paying to host the fight. Bye-bye $75 million guaranteed purses for both men. Now it’s looking like Fury will fight Wilder a third time on July 24, 2021 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Joshua will face mandatory WBO challenger Oleksandr Usyk.
With a deal worth this much money gone south you know there’s a lot of anger behind the scenes. Joshua and Fury both spent the day throwing trash talk at each other arguing about who had dishonored boxing more, whatever the hell that even means in a world where Jake Paul exists.
.@Tyson_Fury the world now sees you for the fraud you are.
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) May 19, 2021
You’ve let boxing down!
You lied to the fans and led them on. Used my name for clout not a fight.
Bring me any championship fighter who can handle their business correctly.
@anthonyjoshua your more full of shit that Eddie, Spouting absolute shite! your full team knew there was an Arbitration going on, it was out of my hands! but i tell you what if i’m a fraud let’s fight this weekend bare knuckles till 1 man quits? let’s put up 20 mill each!!! https://t.co/NbCvwn6YfN
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) May 19, 2021
not going in to the details on line!
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) May 19, 2021
you’ll slap me about will you dosser please come and try Bum, i’m waiting... Femi AKA Bottlejob! 24/7 365. Ready. i’ll smoke wilder first then you will get yours aswell. #GK https://t.co/Led1X54PhS
Anthony Joshua on the situation with Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury… pic.twitter.com/QCp5SR6fSb
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) May 19, 2021
Fury has also been ripping Wilder for making a mess of his August plans.
Tyson Fury's had plenty to say about Deontay Wilder on Instagram over the past 24 hours… pic.twitter.com/qWxlA2ijkT
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) May 19, 2021
Try not to feel too bad for any of these guys. Both Fury and Joshua will be making eight-figure sums for their next fight. All they have to do is not lose these last bouts to dangerous opponents and their “super” fight will come back together in November.
But you know what they say about best laid plans ...
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