DEONTAY WILDER’s mediation with Tyson Fury over their fiercely-disputed trilogy fight is still ongoing, the American’s co-manager Shelley Finkel has revealed.
Former WBC king Wilder – who lost the belt to Fury last February – began legal action last November after The Gypsy King abandoned plans to face him for a third time.
Team Wilder believe Fury is still contractually obliged to give The Bronze Bomber a third fight.
Fury and his representatives, however, are adamant Wilder’s rematch clause expired last October.
A settlement has yet to be reached and will unlikely to come to fruition anytime soon.
Finkel told World Boxing News: “The mediation between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury has not yet ended.”
The ongoing legal action could delay Fury’s long-awaited heavyweight title unification fight with WBA (Super), WBO, IBF and IBO champion Anthony Joshua.
Negotiations over the blockbuster bout are ongoing, although both parties are confident an agreement will soon be reached.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, is well aware that Wilder’s legal action could delay the biggest fight in British boxing history and recently admitted he doesn’t foresee the matter being resolved anytime soon.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Joshua’s KO win over Kubrat Pulev, the Matchroom Boxing chief said: “We try and avoid the mess, and keep discipline and focus on what we’re doing.
“The path for AJ has always been clear, with the ups and downs of the Ruiz fight, and getting that rematch over the line.
“But we know what we’re doing. December 12, it was announced probably eight weeks before the fight, we’re focused on the victory
“That’s their [Fury and Wilder’s] business, it’s a right mess either way, and it’s not going to resolve itself any time soon.
“Hopefully we can just make sure that if Anthony Joshua can beat Kubrat Pulev on December 12, then the path is clear for AJ against Fury in 2021.”
Despite the prospect of his eagerly-anticipated meeting with Fury being derailed, Joshua is confident the fight will happen.
In a guest column for Boxing News, Joshua said: “How close is the Fury fight? I promise you it’s happening.
“But until you hear it from me, don’t buy into anything. I’m serious about the fight so when I announce it you’ll know it’s real.
“I’m taking my time because there has been a lot of back-and-forth for years.
“I’ve been chasing this road to ‘undisputed’ and when the time is right I’ll announce it and I’ll have my mind fully focused on the job at hand.
“When it was Deontay Wilder in my way, that was my focus and he admitted we gave him lucrative offers that he turned down.
“Now it’s Tyson Fury that’s my pure focus. The offers will be made, substantial offers.
“I’ve fought many champions before so it’s obvious to see we’ve done business with world champions before.
“It’s no different with Fury, he should take this fight with both hands. The money will be split down the middle.”
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