{"id":294861,"date":"2023-10-22T18:27:14","date_gmt":"2023-10-22T18:27:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports-life-news.com\/?p=294861"},"modified":"2023-10-22T18:27:14","modified_gmt":"2023-10-22T18:27:14","slug":"anthony-joshua-bout-against-wilder-could-be-same-night-as-fury-vs-usyk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports-life-news.com\/boxing\/anthony-joshua-bout-against-wilder-could-be-same-night-as-fury-vs-usyk\/","title":{"rendered":"Anthony Joshua bout against Wilder could be same night as Fury vs Usyk"},"content":{"rendered":"
Anthony Joshua is lining up Deontay Wilder as half of a blockbuster double bill in Saudi Arabia that will also feature Tyson Fury\u2019s undisputed heavyweight showdown against Oleksandr Usyk.<\/p>\n
Joshua revealed the mega-fixture could take place as early as March next year \u2013 though he is planning to fight before then in London in December.<\/p>\n
Fury, meanwhile, is due to fight in Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday against former UFC world heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. A deal to face Usyk in the same Middle Eastern venue has already been agreed.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the US Grand Prix in Austin after acquiring a stake in the Alpine Formula One team, Joshua said: \u2018They want to put Usyk v Fury and Joshua v Wilder on the same night.<\/p>\n
\u2018When Fury gets through Ngannou it is going to be late October going into November, so I doubt he will prepare for Usyk and then fight in December.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Anthony Joshua brutally knocked out Finnish fighter Robert Helenius in his most recent fight<\/p>\n
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Deontay Wilder’s last fight was also against the big Fin, winning by first round knockout<\/p>\n
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Tyson Fury and Wilder fought a brilliant trilogy, with the ‘Gypsy King’ winning by late knockout<\/p>\n
‘It is too short. So the next window will be in March or April and that is when the undisputed fight will happen. What we are being told is that they want to make it a mega card.\u2019<\/p>\n
After two defeats by Usyk, Joshua got himself back on track to meet former WBC belt-holder Wilder by knocking out Finn Robert Helenius in the seventh round at London\u2019s O2 Arena in August.<\/p>\n
Joshua, 34, has not confirmed who he will fight in December, but said: \u2018It will be in London, probably at the 02 or Wembley Arena.<\/p>\n
\u2018It won\u2019t be a championship fighter \u2013 which is Usyk and Fury. It won\u2019t be none of them guys and I am not too sure about the Wilder situation.\u2019<\/p>\n
Despite the prospect of Joshua facing the American having been in the offing for years, nothing has yet come of it.<\/p>\n
‘Why not?<\/p>\n
\u2018It feels like a land grab,\u2019 reasoned Joshua, who has just come out of a four-day health retreat spent in total darkness.<\/p>\n
\u2018Some fighters want to maximise their revenue. When I first started, you start, you build up your record, you fight and then you fight the big fights.<\/p>\n
\u2018But it is like, \u201cWhere can we get the most money for the fight?\u201d And they want to go to Saudi Arabia so they are waiting for the undisputed fight.\u2019<\/p>\n
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Oleksandr Usyk currently holds three heavyweight belts belonging to the IBF, WBA and WBO\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Tyson Fury is ready for a bout against former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia<\/p>\n