Fury deal may rule out Wilder

TYSON FURY says he is still targeting a rematch with Deontay Wilder despite penning a deal with US promoters Top Rank.

The former world heavyweight champion, above, has been close to signing for a rerun of December’s dramatic draw with the WBC title holder.

But he has opted to link up with Bob Arumled Top Rank, who have an exclusive deal with US broadcaster ESPN.

It could make securing a deal to face Wilder again a boxing politics nightmare. Wilder works with advisor Al Haymon, who is a direct rival of Arum, and through his Premier Boxing Champions deal he appears tied to broadcaster Showtime.

But Fury said: “The fight is more makeable now. We have the biggest boys in town behind us.

“They have to come through me, this is the Tyson Fury show now.

“Deontay, I’m coming for you and this time you can’t rip me off.”

Haymon and Arum have worked together in the past, most notably for Floyd Mayweather jnr against Manny Pacquiao in 2015. But they have been unable to secure unification fights for their welterweight champions, including WBO title holder Terence Crawford and IBF champion Errol Spence jnr.

Fury was close to agreeing terms to face Wilder in May in the US. But it is understood the final details of the financial package led to an impasse.

Then Arum swooped in with a surprise offer which turned Fury’s head and gave him an alternative to a rematch with Wilder.

The deal is understood to be an eight-figure fee offer, which has been described as one of the richest contracts ever signed by a British fighter. He has also extended his deal with Frank Warren and BT Sport in the UK.

The US tie-up may also make an all-British showdown with Anthony Joshua more challenging to make, as his fights are shown in the US by streaming service DAZN.