Deontay Wilder has officially spoiled Tyson Fury’s quest to be undisputed.
Arbitrator Daniel Weinstein ruled in favor of Wilder in his lawsuit against Fury. A third fight between the two has been ordered.
*deontay wilder after ruining the biggest heavyweight title fight ever* pic.twitter.com/Jlq9qElkKx
— Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) May 18, 2021
Wilder believed he was owed a rematch under the terms of their deal for the fight that took place on Feb. 22, 2020. Their contract called for mediation in the event of a dispute followed by binding arbitration if mediation could not solve any issues.
According to reports, Weinstein ruled that Fury must face Wilder by Sept. 15. The ruling also allows for the prospect of an extension to the date if both sides agree to it.
Sources: Daniel Weinstein, the arbitrator in the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder rematch dispute, ruled in favor of Wilder today, saying Fury owes Wilder a third fight. Fury and Wilder signed a two-fight deal but there was disagreement over the rematch clause
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) May 17, 2021
However, Fury has options to keep the Anthony Joshua fight intact. If Wilder agrees to an extension and the step aside fee that would come with it, Fury would still face Joshua.
But that’s if Wilder takes a deal.
The legal opinion came a day after Fury confirmed that the fight with Joshua was confirmed on social media.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn already secured a record $155 million site fee from a Saudi Arabian group. The same group paid a then-record $60 million site fee for Joshua’s rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr. in a temporary outdoor stadium built for the fight in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, in December 2019.
According to reports, Weinstein “was not impressed by the arguments put forth by the Fury side.”
Weinstein cited the 2001 federal lawsuit brought by then-former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis against Hasim Rahman.
British boxing fans hearing a third fight between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury could now happen instead of Fury vs Anthony Joshua…pic.twitter.com/ZgV7o49h7o
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) May 17, 2021
Rahman knocked Lewis out in the fifth round in a massive upset to win the title in South Africa in April 2001.
Lewis exercised his contractual right to an immediate rematch. Still, Rahman attempted to avoid the fight to make a more lucrative fight against former champion Mike Tyson.
Lewis sued Rahman in New York federal court to force an immediate rematch and won the case.
Lewis testified that his skills were declining at age 35, and he needed to fight Rahman again within the 150 days stipulated in their contract.
The judge ruled that unless Rahman honored his contractual obligation to give Lewis an immediate rematch, he would not be permitted to fight anyone for 18 months. Rahman gave Lewis the immediate rematch in November 2001 and got knocked out in the fourth round.
According to reports Weinstein quoted from the ruling, “I find that Wilder, like Lewis, would be irreparably harmed if Wilder were denied the opportunity to regain the championship.”
Currently, Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs) is 35 years old.
The contracts for Wilder vs. Fury’s 2018 draw was a two-fight deal with the loser having the contractual right to a third fight.
Wilder exercised that clause after the loss, and the trilogy was being planned until the coronavirus pandemic killed the chances for a live gate. Also, Wilder had surgery for injured biceps which pushed past the intended trilogy date.
