Deontay Wilder in talks to fight Charles Martin: report

Deontay Wilder evidently is putting together a backup plan in case he doesn’t fight Tyson Fury next.

Sports Illustrated reported today that Wilder is in talks with former heavyweight titleholder Charles Martin for a fight in the first quarter of this year.

Wilder had hoped to fight Tyson Fury a third time – as per a rematch clause — after he was stopped by Fury in the seventh round in February but, in part because of COVID-19, the fight has yet to materialize.

Fury reportedly is near a deal to fight Anthony Joshua this spring and then again before the end of the year, which seems to leave Wilder out of the immediate equation.

Promoter Bob Arum has quoted Fury as saying he would never fight Wilder again because Wilder suggested that Fury altered his gloves for the fight in February.

A mediator reportedly couldn’t resolve the dispute. Wilder’s manager, Shelly Finkel, told SI that the next step is to go to arbitration in a last-ditch attempt to force Fury’s hand.

“We’re going to go for everything we can,” Finkel told SI. “I’m a realist with what I am up against. We have an agreement. Even if we didn’t have an agreement, we gave Fury two shots. He has made more money than he has ever seen. Deontay was very kind to him while he was going through his mental problems.

“Forget everything else: Morally he should give him his shot.”

Finkel said it’s important for Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs) to get back into the ring regardless of what happens with Fury.

“If we can’t get the Fury fight, Deontay needs to be active,” Finkel said. “If it’s the worst-case scenario, we are going to be prepared to get him back in the ring.”

Martin (28-2-1, 25 KOs) won a major heavyweight belt by stopping Vyacheslav Glazkov in the third round in January 2016. He lost it when he was knocked out in two rounds by Joshua less than three months later.