Anthony Joshua has insisted he WILL fight Deontay Wilder as the pair gear up for a massive night of action in Saudi Arabia on December 23.
The two-time world heavyweight king has been mooted as a potential Wilder opponent for years now, but as yet the pair have never locked horns for what would be an explosive confrontation.
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Now though it appears they are just one step away, with both set to feature on that ridiculously good ‘Day Of Reckoning’ card in Riyadh just before Christmas.
Joshua (26-3) will face dangerous Swede Otto Wallin (26-1) while Wilder (43-2-1) goes up against former world champion Joseph Parker (33-3).
The pair were both in the same room at Wednesday’s press conference to announce the card, and AJ admitted he does see that Wilder showdown happening. And he sees it happening next.
Joshua on Wilder showdown
When asked the question, he told DAZN: “Yeah I do. Good luck to him with what he’s doing on December 23. I see us fighting 100 per cent.”
Wilder meanwhile had a few words for Joshua on Wednesday – and he said he too believes that superfight is finally about to go down.
He explained:L “It’s good to be in the same room with him [Joshua] to see him face-to-face. It’s been a long time coming, I wish you nothing but the best bro. And hopefully soon we can get it on in the ring to give the people what they want, once and for all.
“But I wish you nothing but the best – even if it doesn’t happen.
“But I believe it’s going to happen, I believe that it will, it’s about that time, but even if it don’t, I wish you nothing but the best, nothing less.”
AJ or Wilder vs Fury or Usyk?
Joshua has won twice in 2023 – a points success over Jermaine Franklin and a knockout of Robert Helenius – after those back-to-back losses to current IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Wilder meanwhile has been out just once since his defeat by Tyson Fury in their epic October 2021 trilogy fight – a one-round KO of Helenius in October 2022.
Fury and Usyk of course are set to meet on February 17, 2024 (also in Saudi Arabia) to crown boxing’s first undisputed world heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield back in 1999.
The winner of Joshua vs Wilder of course would be high on the list of potential opponents for the newly crowned undisputed champion.
