WBC postpones purse bid for Wilder-Fury II

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has granted a request from representatives of bth Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury to delay the purse bid for their anticipated rematch, which had been set for later this afternoon. Sulaiman agreed to push back the purse bid one week, and the request itself indicates that both fighters are nearing terms for their mandated rematch, which would end the need for a purse bid.

Shelly Finkel, who represents Wilder, affirmed to ESPN that negotiations for the rematch have been going smoothly thus far.

“We’re in strong negotiations and hopefully we will get things done,” he said. “I don’t think we are going to need a purse bid.”

Wilder and Fury are both coming off a December 1st fight last year which turned out to be about as good as anticipated. Fury was largely able to outbox Wilder on the outside, but Wilder once again demonstrated that if he can land a clean shot or two that he can put down any fighter. Wilder would clip Fury in the 12th round with what immediately looked like a fight ending blow, but Fury somehow managed to make it to his feet and finished the fight.

In the end the judges turned in scorecards of 115-111 for Wilder, 114-112 for Fury and 113-113, resulting in a split draw. A lot of fans and media believed that Fury had done enough to win the fight despite his late round knockdown, but it’s not like anyone is really complaining about a second fight either.