Joshua left red-faced as Usyk vs Fury ‘plans’ come to gentle
There are reportedly no plans to stage a blockbuster double invoice that includes Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder and Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury regardless of AJ’s current insistence that the Saudis are exploring the chance. Joshua is anticipated to face Wilder in both March or April of subsequent yr after negotiations stalled for a 2023 date.
Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn beforehand said that “everything had been agreed”, nonetheless, the contracts nonetheless have not been signed. In the interim, Joshua is anticipated to return to the ring on the again finish of the yr, almost certainly December, whereas he awaits the ultimate paperwork for a date with Wilder.
Usyk and Fury, in the meantime, have put pen to paper on a profitable deal for an undisputed heavyweight championship battle in Saudi Arabia. The bout is anticipated to happen on December 23 or someday in January however Joshua believes the turnaround will probably be too tight for the Gypsy King, who faces Francis Ngannou in a money-spinning crossover conflict this weekend.
AJ anticipates it can occur across the identical time as his long-awaited collision with Wilder, opening the door for a spectacular double invoice. “They want to put Usyk-Fury, Joshua-Wilder on the same night. That might not happen until April,” Joshua informed assembled media on the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas on Sunday.
“When Fury gets through Ngannou, it is going to be late October, early November, so I doubt he will now prepare for Usyk and fight in December, it’s too short. So the next window will probably be in March-April, so that’s probably when the undisputed fight will potentially happen.
“Then clearly what we’re being informed is that they wish to make it a mega card they usually just like the sound of Joshua v Wilder on the identical card as properly.”
Rumours of the sizzling doubleheader were floated earlier in the year but multiple reports have since put them to bed for good it seems. Shortly after Joshua’s quotes began to circulate, several key players in the boxing landscape came out and confirmed that there no plans for Joshua and Wilder to be added to the Fury vs Usyk undercard – which could take place as early as December.
Joshua recently returned to Dallas, Texas to start his camp for his next fight with head trainer Derrick James. No opponent nor date has been confirmed as of yet although December 17 at Wembley Arena was teased by Hearn earlier this month.