Tyson Fury: ‘Deontay Wilder wants $20m to let Anthony Joshua fight happen’

Tyson Fury does not expect to face Anthony Joshua in his next fight after Deontay Wilder requested $20m to step aside and allow their bout to go ahead.

Fury, 32, agreed to face Joshua, 31, in a highly-anticipated fight in August.

But Wilder’s team forced an arbitration hearing which concluded he had a contractual right to face Fury for a third time and by 15 September.

Fury said Wilder “asked for $20m (£14m) to move over”, and added: “Looks like I will have to crack his skull again.”

Fury posted his message on Instagram over a video of Wilder working out with trainer Malik Scott.

Scott has also posted, stating Wilder “declined and had no interest in step-aside money”.

“He wants blood and not step-aside money,” Scott posted. “Retribution is upon us.”

Fury stopped Wilder in seven rounds in February 2020 to become WBC world heavyweight champion, 14 months on from when the pair shared a thrilling draw in a first meeting.

A third fight was slated for 2020 but delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and an injury to Wilder prompted Fury to focus on facing Joshua.