Tyson Fury and Conor McGregor are now eligible to fight in the United States after athletes were made exempt from the country’s coronavirus travel ban.
President Donald Trump imposed the sanctions in March, banning travel into America from much of Europe before extending the restrictions to include the UK and Ireland.
That meant Fury’s trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder could not take place while McGregor looked set to fight on an as-yet-unnamed Fight Island secured by the UFC.
But foreign-born athletes will now be allowed to enter the country after an order was signed on Friday.
In doing so, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf wrote: “Professional sporting events provide much-needed economic benefits, but equally important, they provide community pride and national unity.
(Image: REUTERS)
“In today’s environment, Americans need their sports. It’s time to reopen the economy and it’s time we get our professional athletes back to work.”
The UFC returned with three shows over eight days in Florida earlier this month but only US-based athletes were able to compete.
President Dana White had hoped to have Fight Island up and running next month to allow him to host international fights, but the venue may now not be needed.
McGregor hopes to fight in July and could do so at the UFC’s Apex facility in Las Vegas, possibly in a trilogy fight with Nate Diaz.
(Image: REUTERS)
Despite the ruling, crowds will still not be allowed into venues for the foreseeable future which would veto Fury’s fight with Wilder.
Instead their third meeting is likely to take place in Macau or Australia in either November or December, almost a year after Fury stopped the American in the seventh round of their rematch.
Victory for the Brit would set up an undisputed fight with Anthony Joshua next year, assuming he comes through his next defence against Kubrat Pulev.
