Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury To Be Confirmed After Pianeta Fight: Report

Deontay Wilder's World Boxing Council heavyweight title fight with Tyson Fury is set to be confirmed Monday, providing the latter wins his fight against Francesco Pianeta on Saturday.

After the breakdown in negotiations with Anthony Joshua over a title unification fight, Wilder turned his attention to Fury, who claimed a deal was close to being finalized between the two unbeaten heavyweights.

Fury is continuing his boxing comeback with a fight against Pianeta at Windsor Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in what is just his second fight since November 2015, after "anti-doping and medical issues" saw the former champion take nearly three years away from the sport. He defeated cruiserweight Sefer Seferi in June.

And as per the London Evening Standard, Wilder and his co-manager Shelly Finkel will not only be ringside for the fight, but also at the BT Tower in London "after the weekend for an official announcement of their date with Fury."

Fury aims to defeat the American, with the fight likely to take place in December, and then face Joshua in an all-British clash to win his belts back and determine a new undisputed heavyweight champion.

"It’s very easy to win all the belts back. I’ve only got to beat two bums, basically. Wilder and Joshua and that’s it. It shouldn’t be too hard for a great boxer like myself," Fury said. "But there is a target on my back. Pianeta is just one win away from being back right there among the best. Everybody brings their A game when they face me. They know it’s a lottery win if they can beat me."

"So I’m not underestimating Francesco. I know he’s a very big, strong fellow and he knows if he wins then he can go on to fight Wilder. It’s all to play for. I sparred with him in Germany when his record was 26 and 0. He was tough, strong and a very good opponent. It was before he went on to fight [Wladimir] Klitschko and [Ruslan] Chagaev for world titles but I was impressed back then. But I’ve made all the right sacrifices and I’m ready to put on a good show and win the fight."

While anything is possible in combat sports, Fury is expected to defeat Pianeta and is a heavy -10,000 betting favorite as per Sky Bet. Pianeta, who has lost three of his last seven fights meanwhile, is a +2,500 underdog.

The Briton is also a betting favorite over Wilder, despite having just one fight in nearly three years. Late last month, Fury was a -150 favorite to beat Wilder (+110), and while he is still the favorite, his odds have slightly decreased to -137.50 while the "Bronze Bomber" is now a +100 underdog.

Wilder on the other hand, most recently knocked out Luis Ortiz in March and has fought five times since Fury's win over Klitschko in 2015.