Hopes for a Tyson Fury rematch are officially gone, at least in the short term.
Fans of Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury will have to wait a little longer for the rematch.
According to the WBC, where Wilder is the heavyweight title holder, he must now fight his mandatory challenger, Dominic Breazeale. This comes on the heels of Fury’s announced deal with ESPN and Top Rank
Genesis
The story begins back at the WBC 55th Annual Convention in Baku, Azerbaijan in October of 2017.
The WBC Board of Governors voted to accept a final elimination bout in the Heavyweight Division between Breazeale and Eric Molina. That bout took place on November 4, 2017, and Breazeale emerged victorious, becoming the WBC Heavyweight Mandatory Challenger.
On the same date, Wilder fulfilled his mandatory obligation by defeating Bermane Stiverne.
Then on March 4, 2018, Wilder defeated Luis Ortiz in a voluntary defense of his title.
The WBC contends it actively participated in a process to try to support the making of Wilder vs Joshua fight. Breazeale accepted the WBC’s position however, the Wilder vs Joshua match did not materialize.
During the WBC 56th Annual Convention in Kiev, Ukraine in October of 2018, the WBC Board of Governors allowed Wilder to make a voluntary defense of his title against Number 3-ranked contender Tyson Fury.
However, the condition was that the winner of that bout would fulfill the division’s mandatory obligations. That opened the door for a fight with Mandatory Challenger Dominic Breazeale immediately thereafter. The vote also stated if the Wilder v. Joshua fight was arranged, that fight would supersede Wilder’s mandatory obligation to fight Breazeale.
The Outcome
On December 1, 2018, Wilder fought Fury in a voluntary defense of his title. The bout was a dramatic and sensational fight, which resulted in a draw.
On December 10, 2018, the WBC Board of Governor’s unanimously ruled to honor both camps’ petition for an immediate rematch. This was informed to the mandatory challenger, Dominic Breazeale.
On February 26, 2019, the WBC notified the Wilder and Fury camps that while Wilder had confirmed to the WBC his wish to honor the WBC-ordered direct rematch with Fury, the latter had confirmed to his decision to fight a different opponent next.
Fury’s decision resulted in the WBC canceling the Wilder vs. Fury direct rematch order.
With Anthony Joshua tied up with training for his upcoming bout against Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller, fight fans will yet again have to wait to see the best heavyweights in the ring together.
