By Radio Rahim
Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum was very impressed with last week's heavyweight clash between WBC world champion Deontay Wilder and challenger Tyson Fury on Showtime Pay-Per-View.
At the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Wilder and Fury fought to a controversial twelve round split draw.
Fury was down twice in the bout, including a tremendous knockdown in the twelfth round where Fury appeared to be out cold and unexpectedly made it up to continue the contest.
Arum felt the contest was well worth the money for the live crowd and also the fans who purchased the bout on pay-per-view.
"I thought it was a tremendous heavyweight fight. It was a credit to the sport. I had Fury winning the fight on points. That being said, it was a very entertaining fight, the fan's got their money's worth and by all means they should do a rematch," Arum told BoxingScene.com.
There are serious ongoing discussions to stage a rematch in the first quarter of 2019 - but exactly where and when is unknown. Las Vegas would be a frontrunner, as would several stadiums in the UK.
IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO champion Anthony Joshua will return to the ring on April 13 at Wembley Stadium in London. Joshua, and his promoter Eddie Hearn, are ** a push to secure Wilder for the date.
But Arum shakes his head at that scenario. He wants to see Wilder and Fury get it on for a second time. After watching last weekend's bout, he firmly places Joshua as the number 3 heavyweight in the division - behind both Wilder and Fury.
"I think Anthony Joshua is number 3. I think they should forget about Anthony Joshua, fight in the United States and fight each other," Arum said.
2023-10-22 09:51:34
