Former heavyweight champions Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder are slated to step into the ring on the same night in Saudi Arabia on December 23.
However, the much-anticipated face-off between the two heavyweight giants will have to wait, as they are scheduled to take on different opponents.
Joshua, aiming for a triumphant comeback after losing his belts to Oleksandr Usyk, is set to battle Swedish boxer Otto Wallin.
On the same fight card, Wilder will square off against Joseph Parker.
If both fighters secure victories in their respective matches, it could potentially open the door for a showdown between Joshua and Wilder in early 2024.
Expressing his determination at a press conference, Joshua stated, “I can’t predict the future, but I know where I want to go and what I want to do.
“I set out a plan at the start of this year, and I’m sticking to that. I’m a man of my word and I stand firm on what I believe, and I believe I want to be three-time heavyweight champion of the world.
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“And my first stop to that… is putting on a demolishing job against Otto Wallin, Joshua added.
Wilder, who hasn’t entered the ring since his first-round knockout against Finland’s Robert Helenius in October 2022, is eager to make a statement with a victory over Parker.
The originally anticipated December 23 card was expected to feature an undisputed clash between Usyk and Tyson Fury. However, this plan was thwarted after Fury’s controversial points win over MMA star Francis Ngannou, leading to the postponement of the highly anticipated matchup.
Boxing enthusiasts around the world are now eagerly awaiting the outcomes of Joshua and Wilder’s bouts, with the hope that it could set the stage for a thrilling encounter between the two heavyweight powerhouses in the near future.
AFP