Fury-Wilder II: Fans the losers as promotional politics kill rematch

Boxing fans are set to lose out on what would have been the most anticipated heavyweight contest of the year, after the WBC confirmed that the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder rematch is officially postponed.

After showcasing heavyweight boxing at its best in their first bout last year, the protracted – and ultimately failed – negotiations for the pair’s second matchup have served to show the sport at its worst: unnecessarily complicated, political, and self-serving.

When has the Fury-Wilder rematch been delayed until?

Despite ordering an “immediate” rematch last month and setting an initial deadline of February 5 for a fight deal to be made, the sanctioning body has ultimately caved in to the demands of Fury’s promoters. The 30-year-old will instead now take a tune-up fight later in the year, with the WBC – initially so assertive but shown to be lacking in real authority – apparently being given assurances the Wilder rematch will happen soon after.

BREAKING NEWS: @BronzeBomber vs @Tyson_Fury is officially not happening next. The @WBCBoxing has received communications as our process and while Wilder confirmed its willingness to fight the rematch, Fury will take on another fight with expectations to do rematch at a later date pic.twitter.com/vCkXwsQqCd

— World Boxing Council (@WBCBoxing) February 26, 2019

As history has taught us, though, the best-laid plans often go awry in the world of boxing, and the mythical “later date” for the contest being touted by the WBC seems an age away. Who’s to say that either fighter will remain healthy – and unbeaten – in 2019? Who’s to say another spanner won’t be thrown in the works when negotiations resume six or eight months down the line?

Who is to blame for the postponement?

While the WBC must accept some responsibility for failing to make the bout happen, it also can’t physically force either party to step inside the ropes. As the organisation’s official statement alluded to, most of the blame lies with Fury’s new US promotional partner, Top Rank, and its chief, Bob Arun.

Indeed, the “Gypsy King”‘s long-time UK promoter Frank Warren confirmed it was his charge’s lucrative deal with Top Rank, and in turn, broadcaster ESPN, that put paid to the Wilder rematch. Despite the pair’s controversial 12-round draw garnering critical acclaim and commercial success, the US network reportedly feels Fury isn’t a big enough PPV draw Stateside for the bout to be commercially viable yet.

“ESPN are insisting that he has a fight on there before he fights Wilder,” Warren told BBC Radio 5 Live earlier today.

“It will give him bigger exposure, and thus make pay-per-view a bigger attraction when they do the pay-per-view. Tyson wanted the fight. I certainly wanted it. We’re little bit disappointed in some ways, but that’s the decision they’ve made.”

In other words, after sinking a reported $80 million to secure his services, Top Rank and ESPN feel Fury isn’t quite the cash cow they want him to be just yet. As a result, boxing fans are left to stew while the former unified heavyweight champion takes a relatively easy warm-up fight on network television and “showcases his brand” to fans in the US.

Where does this leave the state of heavyweight boxing?

Those with a not-too-short memory will remember the farcical return bouts Fury found himself in after making his comeback to the sport after an extended hiatus last year. Boxing fans should prepare themselves for watching the 6ft 9in fighter take on opposition of a similar calibre to Sefer Seferi and Francesco Pianeta once again.

Wilder’s camp, despite their apparent willingness to make the rematch happen, certainly won’t want to risk their fighter against another top-level opponent before the lucrative Fury fight is able to take place.

As a result, while fans may get to see either Fury or Wilder on two separate occasions in early 2019 rather than one, the heavyweight title scene once again finds itself essentially on pause. With Anthony Joshua set to take on the unheralded Jarrell Miller in New York this June, boxing’s heavyweight division – despite having some of the most exciting potential matchups for generations – looks quite bleak for 2019.