TYSON FURY has been warned announcing his two-fight agreement with Anthony Joshua has come at the worst time – as it will fire up Deontay Wilder.
The Gypsy King, 31, dominated Wilder, 34, last February on the way to becoming WBC champion and handing the American his first loss.
But amid their third fight being backdated due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was announced Fury and Joshua have agreed to a double header next year.
Former unbeaten two-weight champion Andre Ward fears the potential undisputed title decider could cause Fury to lose focus while adding extra "motivation" for Wilder to scupper plans for anticipated Battle of Britain.
Ward said: "I was one of the ones that were clamouring for an undisputed champion, but I just don't like the path Tyson Fury is taking.
"I'm not a fan of giving an opponent, and that opponent right now is Deontay Wilder, bulletin board material.
"This is a man, Deontay Wilder, who took his first loss, a humiliating loss, and he's dealing with his own pride being bruised.
"He's a competitor. If you're Team Fury, you have to know and leave room for Deontay Wilder showing up at the rematch at the best version of himself.
"I don't like the added motivation because even if Fury isn't overlooking him, that's how Team Wilder is going to interpret this."
As Wilder stands in the way of Fury unifying the division against 30-year-old Joshua, the WBA, IBF and WBO champion also has to beat mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev in his next fight.
If the nation's biggest stars are successful, they have verbally agreed to a 50/50 split with the winner then taking the lions share 60 per cent cut in the immediate rematch.
But, WBC mandatory Dillian Whyte, and Oleksandr Usyk, who is next in line for the WBO belt, are threatening to further delay the unification, as they will lobby to have their respected title shots first.
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