BRITON Tyson Fury has said his rematch with WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will take place on February 22 next year.
The 30-year-old is the only boxer that Wilder has faced and not defeated after the pair battled to a draw in December in Los Angeles. Fury controlled much of the fight only to be knocked down twice, including once in the 12th round that looked to be the deciding blow.
“The rematch has been confirmed and signed, February 22. It’s on, the rematch,” Fury told an event at Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre.
“This time I am going to knock him out,” he added. “This time I haven’t been out the ring for three years, this time I haven’t been abusing too much alcohol.”
Wilder is scheduled to defend his belt in a rematch with Luis Ortiz and had tweeted in May that he would be fighting Fury after his bout against the Cuban.
Fury’s last bout came against Tom Schwarz in June when he defeated the German inside two rounds in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, WBC bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali retained his belt for the first time when he smashed Arthur Villanueva to defeat in six rounds at the Barys Arena in Nur-Sultan (Astana), Kazakhstan on Saturday night.
Oubaali (16-0; 12) dominated from the opening bell and scored a knockdown in round six.
Filipino Villanueva, who is rated at No. 15 by the WBC, did not come out at the bell for the seventh round.
Oubaali won the vacant WBC belt with a points win over Rau’shee Warren in January this year.
The 30-year-old Villanueva (32-4-1; 18) was having his third crack at a world title, having lost to McJoe Arroyo and South Africa’s Zolani Tete.
Oubaali, 32, dominated with his southpaw right jab and also scored with straight lefts throughout as he stunned the challenger.
Villanueva was badly hurt in round three and four but managed to survive to the end of the round.
The challenger was knocked down with a right-left combination in the sixth round but he was able to beat the count. However, his corner had seen enough and did not let him come out for the seventh.- Reuters
