The coronavirus has taken another major sporting event away, as Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder III is postponed.
The bout was set for July 18 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Now, it is likely to go down this fall at a later date.
“Clearly not (happening in July),” Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told ESPN. “We don’t even know if the MGM will even be open by then.”
Tyson Fury confirms plans to retire after fighting Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua. pic.twitter.com/NTJlSP5thW
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) March 4, 2020
COVID-19 has caused disruptions around the world in regards to sporting events including major UFC cards, WrestleMania 36, the Summer Olympics and every league.
“You could not guarantee the fighters that the event would take place on that date. We couldn’t convince them or ourselves,” Arum said. “Where were they going to train for it? It just made no sense. You just have to take a step back. How are you going to sell tickets? It’s absolutely ridiculous to say the fight is on when the Brits can’t even get there.”
Fury scored a convincing win in the rematch between the two this past February, knocking Wilder out in the seventh round. They fought to a draw in 2018.