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Boxing

27th Feb 2019

Frank Warren explains what happened with Tyson Fury’s rematch against Deontay Wilder

Warren revealed who is to blame for the rematch falling apart

Darragh Murphy

Frank Warren insists Tyson Fury is not to blame for the rematch with Deontay Wilder falling through

It emerged on Tuesday evening that Fury would not be facing Wilder next as plans were revealed to take an interim fight in May or June in the hope of boosting his profile in the United States.

The WBC confirmed Wilder’s willingness to run it back with ‘The Gypsy King’ next and the undefeated American called Fury out for changing plans after several weeks of negotiations.

Fury’s primary promoter Frank Warren has now revealed that ESPN, Fury’s new broadcast partner in the US, and Top Rank, his new co-promoters, were behind the decision to have the British heavyweight compete once Stateside prior to the Wilder rematch.

“It’s not our doing,” Warren told talkSPORT. “ESPN and Top Rank are insisting that they want to give Tyson an exposure fight in the US first, and then go to this fight [against Wilder] afterwards.

“It’s unfortunate, but I’m hoping we get this fight on in September or October. Fingers crossed.

“I’m hoping that this Wilder fight does go on. I’m very disappointed that we’re not going straight to it but it’s beyond our control.

“[The next fight] will be against whoever we can agree with. At the moment, we’re waiting for the list of fighters, and once we’ve got it we’ll pick the opponent.

“He [Fury] needs to get out. He’s not fought since December and I don’t think we’ll get him in the ring until June.”

It’s been rumoured that Wilder still intends to compete on May 18, with Dominic Breazeale understood to be the front-runner for the next crack at the WBC heavyweight title.

Anthony Joshua, meanwhile, will defend his belts against Jarrell Miller in New York at the beginning of June.