Warren: Everyone wants the Fury-Wilder rematch
TYSON Fury’s promoter Frank Warren says that the Briton’s much-mooted rematch with Deontay Wilder is likely to take place in the United States in the first half of this year.
Wilder retained his WBC heavyweight title following a controversial draw in Los Angeles in December, with many observers insisting Fury had done enough to get the nod from the judges despite being knocked down twice.
Fury’s compatriot Anthony Joshua, holder of the remaining three major world belts in boxing’s blue riband division, has been linked with a bout against either when he returns to action at Wembley on April 13.
But the WBA, IBF and WBO heavy- weight champion is set to be left out in the cold again, according to Warren, who is resigned to his charge having to fight in America again.
“We’re trying to make that fight at the moment, everyone wants the fight and, most importantly, the fighters want it,” Warren revealed on ESPN.
“The venue is looking like the US, that’s where the money is. Tyson was disappointed with the judging with the last fight, as I was, so a lot of things need to be sorted, but the US is where they want it, probably in the second quarter.
“Vegas would be one of the options. I wouldn’t want to go back to California, I didn’t like working with the Californian commission and there were a lot of things we didn’t like there.
“Tyson is already in the gym working hard, ticking over, and I think we would get it (the fight versus Wilder) before June.”
Warren believes Fury’s willingness to travel to a champion’s back yard is in stark contrast to Joshua, who has never before fought outside of Britain in his 22-fight professional career.
“We’re not complicated, Tyson is the most uncomplicated person you will meet, and he will fight anyone,” Warren added.
“He went to Germany to fight Wladimir Klitschko and he went to America to fight Wilder.
“It’s (Joshua’s promoters) Barry and Eddie Hearn’s agenda that complicates it. Joshua is their cash cow and they just want to keep milking it.”
Amir Khan has agreed to face undefeated WBO world welterweight champion Terence Crawford in the United States on Saturday, April 20.
Khan, 32, returned to boxing last April after 23 months away from the sport and secured two wins in 2018.
The Briton had an offer to face domestic rival Kell Brook in a bout, which his team had said would prove more financially rewarding.
But he will instead be a heavy underdog against Crawford, who has held world titles in three divisions.
A news conference is due to take place early this week to outline a venue, either in New York or Las Vegas. Both are cities in which Khan has boxed before – this time, though, he will go up against an American widely regarded as one of the sport’s best pound-for-pound fighters.