US promoter Bob Arum confirms that Tyson Fury's next fight will be against Deontay Wilder

Planned superfight against Joshua in Saudi Arabia now on hold with Wilder-Fury lined-up for July

Tyson Fury knocks down Deontay Wilder during their rematch in Las Vegas in February 2020.

Tyson Fury celebrates defeating Deontay Wilder to win the WBC World Heavyweight Championship at the Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Tyson Fury celebrates with the belts after winning the fight.

Tyson Fury knocks down Deontay Wilder in the fifth round.

Tyson Fury knocks down Deontay Wilder.

Tyson Fury celebrates after knocking down Deontay Wilder.

Tyson Fury watches Deontay Wilder hit the canvas.

Tyson Fury knocks down Deontay Wilder.

Tyson Fury in action against Deontay Wilder.

Tyson Fury at the end of the first round.

Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder in the first round.

Deontay Wilder enters the ring.

Tyson Fury arrives in the arena.

Tyson Fury makes his entrance.

Former Heavyweight Champions Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield.

Former heavyweight champions Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis in the ring.

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson before the fight.

NFL player Patrick Mahomes attends the WBC heavyweight title bout between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Boxing Hall of Fame member Mike Tyson attends the WBC heavyweight title bout between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson attends the WBC heavyweight title bout between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Former NFL player Chad Ochocinco Johnson.

Boxing Hall of Fame member Thomas Hearns attends the WBC heavyweight title bout between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

NBA Hall of Fame member Magic Johnson attends the WBC heavyweight title bout between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis and head coach John Gruden.

Tyson Fury's US promoter, Bob Arum, has confirmed that the British boxer's next fight will be against Deontay Wilder.

Fury had agreed to take on Anthony Joshua in a much-anticipated heavyweight unification clash set for Saudi Arabia in August.

But those plans are now in tatters after an independent arbitrator ruled on Monday that Fury must take on Wilder for a third time. Arum told ESPN the contracts could be signed in the coming days. Fury, 32, would get 60 per cent of the purse with Wilder receiving the lower sum.

The Wilder-Fury fight could be held as early as July 24 in Las Vegas, the American sports broadcaster said, adding that August 14 has been set aside as a backup date.

The heavyweights drew their first fight in 2018 while Fury defeated Wilder to win the WBC heavyweight title two years later.

The arbitrator ruled that Wilder, 35, was contractually obliged to a rematch, with retired judge Daniel Weinstein upholding a claim lodged by the American that Fury must face him in a third fight by September 15.

"There's no chance he [Wilder] will step aside," Arum told Boxing Social in a separate interview. "He doesn't want to step aside, except for a totally preposterous number.

"Whatever it is, the judge said he had a right to the rematch and we are going to go ahead with it.

"Tyson wasn't very happy. But he's going to take out his frustration and anger on Wilder, and he tells me he's going to knock Wilder out quicker this time."

Arum insisted he was also taken aback by the ruling, saying it was "totally unexpected and I think it was the wrong decision.

"I believe that the law and the facts were on our side and that Fury could go ahead and fight Joshua. The arbitrator saw it differently."

Monday's ruling came just a day after Fury announced he had agreed to fight Joshua on August 14 in Saudi Arabia, where the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight belts will be up for grabs.

Neither Fury nor Wilder have fought since clashing in February 2020, when Fury outclassed the previously unbeaten American to win via a seventh-round technical knockout.

The two fighters had battled to a memorable draw in 2018 at Staples Centre Arena in Los Angeles after Fury survived a 12th-round knockdown.

Joshua, 31, could now take on former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who is the WBO mandatory, in his next fight.