Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder ‘subsequent opponents come to mild’ for Saudi card
Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin and Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker might reportedly be on the identical invoice in Saudi Arabia subsequent month. Boxing followers had hoped to see AJ and Wilder face off in opposition to one another this yr however each events had been unable to come back to an settlement on the funds to stage the competition in 2023.
As a outcome, they are going to field completely different opponents on the identical card, based on American boxing journalist Dan Rafael. The invoice is anticipated to happen on December 23, the initially proposed date of Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk‘s undisputed showdown.
Fury’s disappointing show in opposition to Francis Ngannou final month has led to the four-belt shootout being pushed again to February whereas Joshua and Wilder will fill the vacant slot. The heavyweight giants are at present understood to be engaged on a take care of Turki Alalshikh of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority for a pair of fights within the Saudi capital of Riyadh.
And now, their opponents have come to mild. The Daily Mirror claims Joshua is in talks to face Fury’s outdated foe Wallin whereas Wilder is negotiating a bout in opposition to former WBO heavyweight champion Parker.
Dmitry Bivol can also be anticipated to defend his WBA light-heavyweight world title in opposition to Richard Rivera on the identical card whereas British heavyweight contender Daniel Dubois is about to be in motion as effectively. Frank Warren, who’s concerned in selling the occasion because of his shopper Dubois’ inclusion on the cardboard, just lately teased a “massive night” of boxing on December 23 after confirming that Fury vs Usyk is now “unrealistic” for the again finish of the yr.
“There’s gonna be a big night in December,” Warren informed talkSPORT, “We’ll be announcing it very soon and it will be massive. You’re gonna love it, I promise you you’re gonna love it.
“I can’t give you all the information at the moment, but everything’s going in the right direction for something to be a historical night of boxing. It’s gonna feature boxers from all over the world. You will be surprised by the names. There’s some great fights involving British fighters too.”
The card actually appears to be like as if it should stay as much as Warren’s billing however there’ll little doubt be widespread disappointment that it is not Joshua and Wilder headlining the present.