Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua reportedly in talks to have separate fights on same card in December in Saudi Arabia

11/11/2023 11:58

Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder could both fight in December, but not against each other.

The pair are reportedly in talks to both fight in separate bouts on the same card on December 23 in Saudi Arabia.

Joshua and Wilder are hoping to clash next year, but it looks likely that they will both fight in the interim

Boxing journalist Dan Rafael has reported that Turki Alalshikh of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, who recently put on Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou fight, is looking to make this card happen.

December 23 was originally the date reserved for an undisputed fight between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

But, after Fury took more of a beating against Ngannou than anyone expected, a fight with Usyk has been delayed until February next year.

As such, an opportunity has opened up for Joshua and Wilder and it is also reported that WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, who has not fought yet in 2023, could feature on the card.

This all comes after promoter Frank Warren recently told talkSPORT: “There’s gonna be a big night in December.

“We’ll be announcing it very soon and it will be massive.

“You’re gonna love it, I promise you you’re gonna love it.

“I can’t give you all the information at the moment, but everything’s going in the right direction for something to be a historical night of boxing.”

Warren continued: “It’s gonna feature boxers from all over the world. You will be surprised by the names.

“There’s some great fights involving British fighters too.”

As for who Joshua might fight on the card, his promoter Eddie Hearn has previously named Filip Hrgovic, Otto Wallin and Agit Kabayel as potential opponents.

And in terms of who will be in Wilder’s opposite corner, Andy Ruiz Jr and Zhilei Zhang are boxers he has shown an interest in fighting in the recent past.