Wilder Confirms Talks Over A Two-Fight Deal With AJ, Slams Fury-Ngannou, And Saudi’s Four-Man Tournament

Deontay Wilder has revealed that talks are ongoing for a two-fight deal with Anthony Joshua.

The talks of a fight with Wilder have been ongoing ever since there was hope of an undisputed fight between the two in 2019.

Despite that falling through, there is still an appetite to make it happen. Following Joshua’s seventh-round-knockout win over Robert Helenius, the anticipation for the Wilder fight increased.

And now Wilder has confirmed that fans could see not one but two fights.

Wilder On AJ

“As far as the boxing stuff, everybody knows the Joshua situation. That is serious. That is real. And that is one that is up next. And we’re looking forward to that. I’m getting into camp real soon for that. I’ll be promoting that within the next few months or so. And finally get that showdown on, once and for all. I think it’s gonna be a great, great fight between me and him.

“I’m actually working on a two-fight deal with me and Joshua. One up in Saudi Arabia, and the other one up in—we’re going back to the motherland, Africa,” Wilder

Those comments would make sense since the loser will most likely want a rematch, with Africa offering a new market for the fighters to delve into.

Joshua does have Nigerian heritage, whilst Wilder has spoken previously about having roots in Nigeria too.

And given that Muhammad Ali had the privilege of fighting in Africa against George Foreman, Joshua and Wilder would be following in those footsteps. And it seems that the desire to have it in Africa is greater with a bigger purse on offer.

“In Africa, they willing to overbid Saudi right now. They was gonna bid $200 million—100 [dollars] apiece,” Wilder

AJ On Saudi Tournament

In addition to this, Anthony Joshua has revealed that plans for a four-man heavyweight tournament in Saudi Arabia have come back to the fore.

Initial reports indicated that Saudi was looking to host the four heavyweights, Joshua vs Wilder and Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk on the same night.

However, those claims failed to come to fruition. The Fury-Usyk fight never got made, while Joshua vs. Wilder also never got signed. However, it appears that this could be about to change.

The amount of money on the table, coupled with the desire from the fighters to make it happen, may prove too much. After all, outside of the big four, fans are not keen on seeing any other fights.

“The goal is to have Usyk and Fury compete for the undisputed heavyweight championship, myself and Deontay Wilder, two big punchers, great fighters, been to the top of the mountain, slug it out and may the best man win. It’ll be a great event potentially. Wait to see what happens and then finalize the devil in the detail,” Joshua

Wilder Slams Fury-Ngannou

Nevertheless, time will be running out to make it happen. All of the heavyweight are in their 30s, as they enter into the final stages of their careers. And with boxing fans not being happy because the biggest fights are not happening, something has to give.

Meanwhile, Deontay Wilder has hit out at Tyson Fury’s upcoming fight with Francis Ngannou.

The two will square off on in a crossover event in Saudi Arabia on October 28th, 2023. Although it will be a huge spectacle, Fury is the massive favourite given that Ngannou has never boxed before.

Therefore, Wilder was not too keen on the bout due to the lack of competitiveness that it would offer. And in doing so, he slammed the state of heavyweight boxing.

“Probably no, [I won’t watch it]. I think it’s gonna be boring. Because I haven’t been in it, the heavyweight division is going down tremendously…The heavyweight division has been f***ing dead,” Wilder

This is understandable since the hopes had been on an undisputed heavyweight fight with Oleksandr Usyk.

Despite the latter accepting a 70-30 split against him, the fight could not get made. However, it is important to bear in mind that Wilder had been targeting a fight with Ngannou prior to Fury.

But when it came to the ‘Bronze Bomber,’ the heavyweight was serious about facing Ngannou in a cage fight. And that perhaps would have offered the fan base something new to contend with unlike the Fury-Ngannou fight.

“I said why don’t you come to my backyard, and after we handle business, I can come to yours and crossover, and I really meant it. So things are still up in the air, but I have seen myself on this side of the field. People will be very impressed on what I can do in my abilities to be here.

“We discussed this before. And hey, we got many space and opportunity to discuss it once more,” Wilder said. “Aye, I’m looking for a two-fight crossing over,” Wilder