By Kenneth Friedman: Bob Arum is convinced that Deontay Wilder’s co-manager Shelly Finkel never read the contract for the third match against Tyson Fury. Arum says Finkel is wrong if he believes that former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs) still has options for a third fight against Fury.
Arum has had his lawyer read the contract, and he says that Fury’s lawyer Robert Davis has read it as well. Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) will be moving on, and he won’t be fighting Wilder next.
The original idea was for Fury and Wilder to fight in December, but affording to Fury, he wanted to push the fight to 2021. That’s something that Fury wasn’t willing to do.
Top Rank promoter Arum is looking to match Fury against possibly Agit Kabayel or Carlos Takam on December 5th in the UK. An annoucement is expected to be made soon on the opponent for the 32-year-old Fury. This will be a stay busy fight for Fury, and not one meant to be serious entertainment for the boxing public.
Arum denies Wilder has an option for third Fury fight
“That’s absolutely not true. I don’t know what he’s talking about,” said Bob Arum to IFL TV in respecting to Wilder’s co-manager reportedly saying they still have options for the third fight with Fury.
“Not only has our lawyers read the plain language of the contract, but Fury has Robert Davis as his lawyer in the UK has ready the contract. The contract is clear. Shelly [Finkel] can say what he wants,” said Arum.
Fury won’t be making more money for his December 5th fight than he would be getting if he waited until January to fight Wilder. It’s more important for Fury that he fights as soon as possible because he’s been out of the ring since last February when stopped Wilder in the seventh round.
Choosing an easier opponent like #15 WBC Kabayel (20-0, 13 KOs) or 39-year-old second-tier heavyweight Takam (39-5-1, 28 KOs) would remove virtually any threat of him losing. It’s important that Fury not lose his next fight because he’s going to make a lot of money fighting IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in 2021.
Bob doubts Finkel has read the contract
“The thing that’s crazy about it is, the last time I talked to Shelly Finkel was the night of the fight after Wilder had been beat [by Fury], and I haven’t talked to him since,” Arum said.
“So Shelly hides in the bushes, and then when he sees something adverse to his fighter or himself happens, then he comes out and makes statements. I am sure, absolutely sure, not knowing, but I think Shelly Finkel has never read the contract,” said Arum.
If the contract is valid, Team Wilder might choose to force the trilogy match with Fury. Thus far, there hasn’t been much said from their side in public.