Former
heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua recently revealed that a possible
fight against Deontay Wilder is “95 per cent done” on his end, and it
could happen in December if everything goes according to plan. Discussions are
currently underway for a “tournament” in Saudi Arabia, which could
also feature Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk on the same card.
Joshua’s
most recent fight was on April 1, where he secured his first victory in over
two years by defeating Jermaine Franklin. Prior to that, he had suffered two
consecutive losses to Usyk in 2021 and 2022. Following his win, Joshua
announced that he would not return to the ring until December, effectively
ruling out any potential summer showdowns with either Fury or Dillian Whyte.
The
British-Nigerian fighter is now expected to face former WBC World Champion
Wilder towards the end of the year in a long-awaited fight that could have
taken place when they were both champions.
Joshua
expressed his confidence in the proposed fight taking place, citing his
positive experiences with Saudi Arabia and their track record of delivering on
their promises. “As the man behind the scenes, it is important to start
getting ready. In terms of it getting delivered, I honestly believe it is 95
percent there,” he told Metro.
While
he respects Wilder and acknowledges his accomplishments in the sport, Joshua is
determined to raise his game and come out on top. “He is good, I respect
him, I don’t undermine him. That will make me raise my game. I respect what he
has done and what he has done in this division. It is hard to become a
champion, and he did it, so I have to respect that,” Joshua said.
