Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder
Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder have a two-fight deal to face each other.
That is according to Dan Rafael. Reports indicate the first fight will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 9, 2024, provided both men come through their next fights.
Source: Joshua, Wilder agree to ALL terms on 2-fight deal, contracts expected to be signed ahead of their Saturday bouts on #DayOfReckoning. Read my story for details & sign up for my #boxing newsletter:https://t.co/w7go9iOrPo@Turki_alalshikhpic.twitter.com/qu5LgfiTU9
-Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) December 20, 2023
Reports surfaced last week that the matchup was in the works.
Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder have a deal in place for a March 9 fight in Saudi Arabia, sources tell ESPN.
The former heavyweight champs compete in separate bouts Dec. 23 and they must win to keep the bout intact. Joshua fights Otto Wallin while Wilder faces Joseph Parker.Pic.twitter.com/8PrZrfHJ9Q
-Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) December 13, 2023
Joshua faces Otto Wallin on December 23rd, and Wilder takes on Joseph Parker on the same card. Joshua and Wilder were discussing an undisputed fight in 2018 when Wilders camp made a $50 million offer. The fight failed to get made after Eddie Hearn confirmed Joshua was required to accept the offer before a contract was sent.
The contract never came, and both men lost their titles. Joshua would lose his WBA, WBO and IBF belts to Andy Ruiz Jr. and then Oleksandr Usyk. Wilder would lose his WBC belt to Tyson Fury. This time, a fight could be for a WBC title eliminator, putting the winner in position to face Fury or Usyk.
Both men have question marks over their form. Joshuas wins over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius were far from convincing. Meanwhile, Wilders stoppage of Helenius in the first round was over a year ago. Before that, he had been stopped by Fury in two consecutive fights. That has set the narrative for an intriguing fight. (Fight Sports)
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