Tyson Fury's rematch with Deontay Wilder has been pushed back from it's original date of July 18th due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told ESPN yesterday that the duo's trilogy bout is still in the pipeline but it will not be happening this summer.
Arum also confirmed that the fight is now likely to take place in the final quarter of the year.
"Clearly not," Arum said of the bout being on July 18. "We don't even know if the MGM [Grand Arena] will even be open by then."
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Casinos are currently shut in Las Vegas and the Nevada State Athletic Commission has cancelled all combat sports in the region due to the current outbreak.
"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 always brings heavy support from England if he fights overseas with thousands of fans flocking to the US for the previous two fights with the 'Bronze Bomber.'
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"So everybody has to take a step back. Boxing is not isolated. It's part of what's happening in the world," Arum said. "So possibly the fight will be in early October."
Arum said he has spoken to head of Premier Boxing Champions and Wilder's co-manager Al Haymon with the duo being in agreement.
"Al and his people are in touch with us all the time on this," the 88-year-old said.
"We see things the same way. We'll be very, very cautious moving ahead and pray this will be over at a particular time and we will be able to make smart plans. Nobody has ever experienced anything like this before."
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The postponement all but definitely rules out a potential title unification match between Fury and fellow Brit Anthony Joshua.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Tyson Fury, Boxing News, Anthony Joshua, Boxing, Bob Arum, Deontay Wilder
