Fury tests positive for COVID-19, fight with Wilder postponed

[July 10, 2021]  By Rohith Nair

(Reuters) - The trilogy fight between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas this month has been called off after Fury tested positive for COVID-19, the World Boxing Council (WBC) announced on Friday.

WBC heavyweight champion Fury had signed a contract in May to fight American Wilder for a third time on July 24.

"Fury vs Wilder III will be postponed. We wish Tyson Fury's team and him speedy recovery from COVID," the WBC said.

Fury tested positive earlier this week. A source close to the promotion said the fight will be postponed until the autumn.

Fury, 32, had been set to face fellow Briton Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia in August in a world heavyweight unification title fight, but an American arbitrator ordered Fury to fight Wilder again before Sept. 15.

Tyson Fury knocks down Deontay Wilder during the fight REUTERS/Steve Marcus/File Photo

Fury first fought Wilder, who is now 35, in 2018 and took the WBC title from him in a rematch in February 2020 with a seventh-round stoppage.

(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis and Christian Radnedge)

[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.