Anthony Joshua is lining up Deontay Wilder as half of a blockbuster double bill in Saudi Arabia that will also feature Tyson Fury’s undisputed heavyweight showdown against Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua revealed the mega-fixture could take place as early as March next year – though he is planning to fight before then in London in December.
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.
Speaking at the US Grand Prix in Austin after acquiring a stake in the Alpine Formula One team, Joshua said: ‘They want to put Usyk v Fury and Joshua v Wilder on the same night.
‘When 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.
Speaking ahead of the US GP, Anthony Joshua revealed he was lining up Deontay Wilder as half of a blockbuster double bill in Saudi Arabia
The Briton recently acquired a stake in the Alpine Formula One team
Joshua brutally knocked out Finnish fighter Robert Helenius in his most recent fight
‘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.’
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’s O2 Arena in August.
Joshua, 34, has not confirmed who he will fight in December, but said: ‘It will be in London, probably at the 02 or Wembley Arena.
‘It won’t be a championship fighter – which is Usyk and Fury. It won’t be none of them guys and I am not too sure about the Wilder situation.’
Despite the prospect of Joshua facing the American having been in the offing for years, nothing has yet come of it.
‘Why not?,’ reasoned Joshua, who has just come out of a four-day health retreat spent in total darkness.
‘It feels like a land grab.
‘Some 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.
‘But it is like, “Where can we get the most money for the fight?” And they want to go to Saudi Arabia so they are waiting for the undisputed fight.’
Deontay Wilder’s last fight was also against the big Fin, winning by first round knockout
Tyson Fury and Wilder fought a brilliant trilogy, with the ‘Gypsy King’ winning by late knockout
Oleksandr Usyk currently holds three heavyweight belts belonging to the IBF, WBA and WBO
Tyson Fury is ready for a bout against former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia