Deontay Wilder’s trainer and co-manager Jay Deas has admitted a fight with Tyson Fury has saved the rest of 2018 from being a complete washout for the WBC heavyweight champion.
It’s not secret the ‘Bronze Bomber’ wants career defining fights. Wilder famously offered top division king Anthony Joshua a massive $50 million purse to face him in the United States.
Ultimately, Joshua declined to participate and Wilder was forced to re-evaluate his next move.
The likes of Dominic Breazeale and Dillian Whyte could have been viable as they are both riding high in the World Boxing Council ratings, although neither had anywhere near the appeal of Joshua.
Luckily enough, Fury was embarking on a comeback. Wilder then pounced as soon as the ‘Gypsy King’ took to social media to call him out.
Asked how important the Fury offer was to Wilder and what other choices were available, Deas was at a loss to pick out names amidst speculation that a rematch with Luis Ortiz, who was defeated via late stoppage in March, would have been the alternative.
“I don’t know who Deontay should have fought had Fury not accepted. I prefer to deal in reality and not hypotheticals,” Deas exclusively told World Boxing News.
“I’m thrilled Fury is taking the fight and showing the U.K. That they have a guy who truly wants to be the best by facing the best.”
UNDISPUTED
On an undisputed unification falling apart, Deas added: “The Joshua fight collapse was frustrating.
“When we offered fifty million, a sum never before guaranteed a heavyweight fighter in the history of boxing, I was sure it would happen.
“Again, this is after Joshua asked publicly for that amount. He stated he would take the fight. He didn’t. After that, I knew it was all going to be posturing and garbage.
“Hopefully, we can put it together one day but there is the business of fighting Fury first, the guy who does in fact want the fight.
“We will see if the Joshua fight happens eventually and I do hope that it does,” he concluded.
Wilder v Fury is now heading for a date in early December. November had originally been the target in Las Vegas but New York is also possible.
December 1 is now the hot favorite, with the Barclays Center a contender outside Nevada.
Phil Jay is Editor of World Boxing News. Follow on Twitter @PhilDJay
