TYSON FURY has reportedly lined up a shock FOURTH FIGHT with Deontay Wilder for his return to the ring later this year.
The WBC heavyweight champion is gearing up to return to action in July and is understood to have Wembley Stadium on standby for two potential dates.
An opponent for Fury’s first outing of the year has yet to be finalised, although it’s claimed The Gypsy King’s team have lined up a shock quadrilogy bout with long-time rival Wilder.
That’s according to World Boxing News, who claim preliminary negotiations over a fourth meeting have taken place.
It’s said that “sound-out” talks between the pair’s respective representatives recently took place in Saudi Arabia.
Fury and Wilder, 34 and 37 respectively, were in Saudi in February for Tommy Fury’s grudge match with Jake Paul.
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And the once fierce rivals had a brief embrace with one another after crossing paths in Diriyah.
Fury, however, recently took aim at Wilder after getting wind of the American’s predictions for a potential fourth fight.
He wrote on Instagram: “You are a [piece] of s**t! No good bum! I’ve spanked you three times.
“You have had a lot to say but when we came face to face your a*e fell out. Nuff said.”
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News of the reported talks come not long after Wilder’s head coach claimed the American was in line to face a “mystery opponent” for his first outing of the year.
Malik Scott told Best Sports Boxing Canada: “It’s down to the mystery opponent and Andy Ruiz Jr.
“Since AJ [Anthony Joshua] has made up his mind and does not want to fight Deontay right now, we’re down to Andy Ruiz and the mystery guy [Fury].
“The mystery fighter is not as guaranteed to happen as the Ruiz fight.
“If you’re looking at it from the business perspective, it will most likely be the mandatory shot, Ruiz.”
Former unified heavyweight champion Wilder and current WBC king Fury first began their rivalry back in December 2018.
The first fight, in which Fury rose from the canvas in the 12th round like Lazarus, ended in a controversial draw.
Fury got his revenge on the Bronze Bomber in February 2020, stopping him in the seventh round of their Las Vegas rematch.
Alabama slammer Wilder was given the opportunity to level their series in October 2021 after winning his arbitration for a trilogy fight – which scuppered a blockbuster Battle of Britain between Fury and Anthony Joshua.
The Olympic bronze medallist knocked Fury down twice in their Sin City rubber match but ended up suffering a brutal 11th-round knockout loss.
Wilder bounced back from the consecutive losses with a brutal first-round knockout of former sparring partner Robert Helenius last October.
Fury, meanwhile, has fought twice since his last tussle with Wilder – registering back-to-back stoppage victories over Brit rivals Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk