Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder III at risk if no fans allowed, Frank Warren says

Tyson Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has suggested that the trilogy fight against Deontay Wilder could yet to take place outside of the UK and USA if fans are not able to attend.

The third WBC heavyweight championship fight between the duo was targeted for 19 December in Las Vegas, but the lack of an attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic would be problematic.

After Fury beat Wilder back in February to win the WBC heavyweight title, the third meeting was set to be a highly anticipated fight, but Fury’s promoter Warren has said that it would not be possible to stage the fight without a crowd.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Warren said: “Not a fight of that magnitude.

“Wilder and Fury was the highest grossing fight to ever take place in Vegas. We just can't lose that gate. It's a huge amount of money. We need the gate.

“Or we come up with a scenario where there is a huge site fee from a territory to take it, and we use it to promote their country.

“We are looking at those situations.”

Fury’s US-based promoter, Top Rank’s Bob Arum, previously revealed that he is working on a protocol with the Nevada commission that would allow a limited number of fans to gain entry.

Undefeated WBC champion Fury has said: “It is quite frustrating to be honest but we're not in this boat alone.

“I'm not the only athlete on the planet who is not active at the moment. We're all in it together.

“We're all working as a team to source a date and a venue. Hopefully they'll allow crowds in sooner or later - we're just all working towards that goal.”

Fury vs Wilder III previously received an interesting bid to be staged in Australia on Christmas Day.

Speaking to Sky Sports, promoter Dean Lonergan said: “I just made the point: 'Bob, if Australia opens up, you could come down here. Here's a budget, here's what it could look like. We've worked together before it would be a great place to do it'.”

Fury's trainer Sugarhill Steward has revealed how the team is coping with the uncertainty: “Everybody wants to be back working again. He wants to train for a fight and to compete. His last fight was historical for so many reasons, so he wants to get back in there again.

“But he's not breaking dishes or having temper tantrums about it.

“We feed off each other. If I was worried, maybe he'd be worried, and vice versa. We set each other straight. Worrying is wasted energy and that kind of stuff adds stress.”