By Charles Brun: Tyson Fury says he’s received a “massive offer” to bring his rematch against WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder to Saudi Arabia. Fury, who is now saying he’s 30-0, has a match tonight against wrestler Braun Strowman at the WWE Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia.
It’s unclear whether Fury is just talking without being serious about an offer for the Wilder rematch to take place in Saudi Arabia. At this point, there’s a lot of doubt about whether Fury will ever fight Wilder again. Fury is now a professional wrestler, and he’s talking about only having 2 or 3 more fights left in his boxing career.
The reality is Fury has so much going on with his life right now, and he really doesn’t need the headaches that would come from a second fight against Wilder. Fury was already knocked clean out by Wilder last December. He might not want to experience that again.
Fury is now talking about wanting to take on UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Mioci in an MMA match. If that’s a match that takes place before the Wilder rematch, then that likely will wipe that fight out.
Lineal heavyweight champion Fury says his team will be looking at the proposal to bring the fight with Wilder to Saudi Arabia. As of now, the match will take place on February 22 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The offer will need to be considerable to get the 6’7″ Wilder to come over to Saudi Arabia because it’s going to be inconvenient for his boxing fans to make the long expensive trip to that country to see him fight.
Fury says Wilder rematch possible for Saudi Arabia
“It’s going to be a great night of wrestling entertainment,” Fury said to IFL TV. “And hopefully this is the first time of many times the Gypsy King comes to Saudi Arabia because who knows, next year I may even fight Deontay Wilder back here in Saudi Arabia. It’s becoming the sporting capital of the world.”
There will be a lot of eyes on the December 7th rematch between IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. and Anthony Joshua. That fight is taking place in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. If it turns out to be a disaster with boxing fans having problems getting into the country, and having difficulties while there, then it’s unlikely Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KOs) would be eager to face Fury over there.
Wilder dropped Fury hard in the 12th round last December, and appeared to have him unconscious. Instead of the fight being stopped, the referee stood and gave a count. A lot of boxing fans second guessed the referee for not stopping the fight on the spot. Other fans point out that the referee delayed starting the count by him looking into the crowd after Wilder dropped Fury.
Will Deontay agree to face Fury in Saudi Arabia?
It’s unlikely Wilder will entertain the idea of fighting Fury in Saudi Arabia. Given how his previous fight with Fury was handled, Wilder could say no.
Fury dodged a stoppage loss in his last fight against Otto Wallin when the ringside doctor chose not to stop the fight after Tyson was badly cut in the third. Some boxing fans wonder why the fight was allowed to continue with Fury’s terrible cut over his right eye. Had the fight been stopped, Fury would have lost. He ended up with 47 stitches in his right eye.
