AFTER many delays and longer discussions, the purse bid for Tyson Fury versus Dillian Whyte, mandated by the WBC whose heavyweight belt Fury holds, went ahead on Friday.
Queensberry and Top Rank, Fury’s UK and US promoters, won the rights to the contest for a whopping $41 million, outbidding Matchroom Boxing.
Afterwards Top Rank stated: “Queensberry and Top Rank are delighted to announce that WBC and lineal world heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury will defend his titles against Dillian Whyte following today’s purse bids. A venue and date for the fight will be announced in due course.”
The contest will be broadcast by ESPN in America and screened on BT Sport Box Office in Britain. It will be Fury’s first fight to take place in the UK since 2018.
In the days leading up to the purse bid there had had speculation that Anthony Joshua would consider taking step aside money to allow Fury to take on Oleksandr Usyk, now the second best heavyweight in the world after his victory over Joshua in September. Those talks ultimately broke down and Joshua now looks likely to go ahead with that rematch with Usyk.
Ahead of the purse bid Fury had declared, “I can’t wait to punch Dillian Whyte’s face right in. I’m going to give him the best hiding he’s ever had in his life. Dillian Whyte, train hard, sucker. Because you’re getting annihilated.”