TYSON FURY faces having to pay Deontay Wilder step aside money to keep his hopes of fighting Anthony Joshua alive.
It comes after an arbitration judge ruled in favour of the American, who was seeking a trilogy bout with Fury.
Wilder, beaten by the Brit in February 2020, was contracted to an immediate rematch with his heavyweight rival.
But as talks stalled amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Gypsy King’s team claimed the stipulation expired in October.
As a result, they entered talks with Joshua for an undisputed title decider, which was heading for August 14 in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Wilder was fighting his case for a shot at redemption with a mediator.
And now the Daily Star has reported that the legal dispute has gone the former WBC champion’s way.
Fury, 32, has been told he owes Wilder, 35, a third fight and would be breaching his contract if he failed to meet him in the ring again.
But according to The Athletic, the undisputed title decider between Britain’s two superstars can still go ahead – even though the water has been muddied.
The Telegraph say the case is believed to be civil, not federal, meaning a payout in compensation for Wilder is possible.
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And due to the huge £110m site fee on offer in Saudi Arabia, the Alabamian could be in line for a settlement between £3.5m and £5.6m.
The Bronze Bomber is co-managed by Shelly Finkel, Mike Tyson’s former representative, and mysterious boxing mogul Al Haymon.
They have both remained silent throughout the process but Finkel has always reiterated their case was being taken care of in arbitration.
The news comes only a day after Fury confirmed his unification with AJ was set in stone.
He said in a social media video: “Got some massive news for you all.
“I’ve just got off the phone from Prince Khalid of Saudi Arabia, he’s told me this fight is 100 per cent on. August 14, 2021 summertime.
“All eyes of the world will be on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“And I cannot wait, repeat: cannot wait to smash Anthony Joshua on the biggest stage of all time.
“This is going to be the biggest sporting event ever to grace the planet earth. Do not miss it. All eyes on us.
“Peace out, God bless, see you all in Saudi! Yes, get in!”
Now it is believed he has been order to fight Wilder – the man he initially drew with in 2018 – for a third time by September 15.
Fury and his US promoter Bob Arum flew to California for an arbitration meeting with Wilder’s representatives in late April.
At the time, he told Ring Magazine negotiations for a third fight between the two were possible as he claimed talks with Joshua’s side stalled.
Since then, Arum and AJ’s backer Hearn confirmed the final touches in the contract for the undisputed title fight were being put together.
The Bronze Bomber has recently returned to training and announced his new trainer Malik Scott, 40, the man he knocked out in 2014.
He has largely remained silent since his first ever loss but has made headlines whenever he has made a rare appearance.
That was largely due to him listing his bizarre excuses for his defeat to Fury, made baselessly and without evidence.
They included the Brit loading his gloves with WEIGHTS and his water being ‘spiked’.
Fury was so enraged with the accusations, Arum said in January he would NEVER fight Wilder again.
But it remains to be seen how Wilder’s win in mediation will affect the three leading heavyweights, with their representatives yet to comment on the development.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
