Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder III could be postponed over COVID-19 outbreak

The third fight between heavyweight titleholder Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder, scheduled for July 24 in Las Vegas, could be postponed because of a COVID-19 outbreak in Fury’s camp, according to reports.

The Athletic has reported that as many as 10 people in Fury’s gym have tested positive. It’s not clear whether Fury is among the 10.

The fighters’ handlers reportedly are assessing the situation. No decisions have been made.

“We continue to monitor the health status of Tyson and his team, and the status of the event has not changed to date,” Top Rank, Fury’s promoter, said in a statement.

The fight could be postponed until September, which would put the Fury-Wilder winner on the same time table as titleholder Anthony Joshua, who is finalizing a deal to face Oleksandr Usyk on Sept. 25.

Fury was expected to fight Joshua for the undisputed heavyweight championship this summer but an arbitrator ruled that Fury must honor a rematch clause in the contract for Fury-Wilder II.

Fury and Wilder fought to a draw in December 2018. Fury won the rematch, in February of last year, by seventh-round knockout.