Deontay Wilder will not step aside to allow Tyson Fury to fight Anthony Joshua in August, Fury’s promoter Bob Arum says.
Fury, 32, agreed to face Joshua, 31, in Saudi Arabia.
But Wilder’s team forced an arbitration hearing which concluded he had a contractual right to face Fury for a third time. The latest fight is set to take place in Las Vegas on 24 July.
“There’s no chance he [Wilder] will step aside,” Arum told Boxing Social.external-link
“Whatever it is, the judge said he had a right to the rematch and we are going to go ahead with it.”
Arum said Fury was angry when he learned that the fight against American Wilder will take place, adding: “It is what it is.
“He will take out his frustration and anger on Wilder and he tells me he will knock Wilder out quicker than he did last time.”
Fury stopped Wilder in seven rounds in February 2020 to become WBC world heavyweight champion, 14 months on from when the pair shared a thrilling draw in a first meeting.
A third fight was slated for 2020 but delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and an injury to Wilder, 35, prompted Fury to focus on facing Joshua.
With Fury now set to fight Wilder, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn says he has had to switch to “plan B”, which could mean facing the WBO mandatory – Oleksandr Usyk.
Arum believes a showdown between Fury and Joshua could be arranged for “in the winter” if they win their respective fights this summer.
Joshua holds the WBO, WBA and IBF belts, meaning a bout with Fury would have been the first at heavyweight for all four world titles.
“I don’t think it will be difficult after they both win, if they both win, to renew talks,” Arum said.
“We have been through it, we know all the ins and outs and it will come together quite quickly. At least that is my hope.”