Tyson Fury trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder ‘cannot go ahead’ and Dillian Whyte can take legal action against it, insists Eddie Hearn
A TRILOGY bout between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury “cannot go ahead” and Dillian Whyte can take legal action against it, insists Eddie Hearn.
Wilder, 33, and Fury, 30, have signed to rematch next year after they fought to a contentious split-decision draw in December.
Promoter Bob Arum revealed the contract includes a third fight - but Wilder first rematches Luis Ortiz this year while Fury faces Tom Schwarz next weekend.
However, Hearn told the trilogy cannot go ahead as Whyte is to face Oscar Rivas for the WBC interim title on July 20 with the winner mandatory for Wilder’s title.
Hearn said: “It’s not allowed - there’s gonna be a serious legal position for Dillian Whyte if that’s the case.
“Because Dillian Whyte is fighting Oscar Rivas, that’s for the ‘interim’ title and the mandatory position, but we want it next.
“The offer from the WBC is for the ‘interim’ title and mandatory position, it’s when that mandatory occurs.
“There will be serious issues if that mandatory is not when we want that mandatory to be. It’s ongoing.”
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Whyte, 31, has been the WBC No1 ranked challenger for two years but is yet to receive a crack at Wilder’s title.
This year, after Fury signed a £80million deal with Top Rank that shelved his rematch with Wilder, the WBC chose Dominic Breazeale as the mandatory for the Bronze Bomber.
Breazeale was knocked out in one round as overlooked Whyte was again left to campaign for his shot at the green and gold belt.
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But with the WBC set to sanction Whyte’s fight with Rivas for the interim title and mandatory position, Hearn is confident his man will finally square off against the Alabama puncher.
Hearn added: “Deontay Wilder must fight Dillian Whyte, and I say to the people out there – keep supporting Dillian Whyte.
“He has been number one for 580 days and he still isn’t mandatory and we’ve got to make sure he gets what he deserves.”