The aftermath of Anthony Joshua’s triumph over Finnish heavyweight contender, Robert Helenius, on August 12 has stirred talks of an imminent showdown between Joshua and Deontay Wilder, the American boxer. With Joshua’s commanding knockout performance, his management and Wilder’s team are eager to finalize a deal for a much-anticipated bout in Saudi Arabia, potentially slated for January 2024.
Deontay Wilder’s camp envisions a thrilling clash between the two boxing giants, and negotiations are underway to solidify this thrilling match. While initial discussions had suggested a Saudi Arabia encounter in December, circumstances shifted, leading to the decision to reschedule the fight for January 2024.
The significance of Joshua’s recent victory is not lost on anyone involved. As a last-minute replacement for Dillian Whyte, who is facing doping investigations, Robert Helenius posed an unexpected challenge. However, Joshua’s knockout victory in the 7th round has propelled him further into the spotlight, intensifying the discourse around the impending Wilder-Joshua showdown.
Shelly Finkel, the manager of Deontay Wilder, conveyed his optimism about the possibility of sealing the deal for a Wilder-Joshua bout early in 2024. In an interview with Sky Sports, Finkel emphasized his belief in the negotiations’ potential success.
Deontay Wilder’s head trainer, Malik Scott, underscored the significance of Joshua’s knockout victory. Scott noted that the knockout was “needed” and raised the stakes for the potential super fight in Saudi Arabia. While both camps were already confident in Wilder’s eventual triumph, Joshua’s powerful performance solidified the importance of their upcoming bout.
Scott elaborated on their reaction to Joshua’s victory, recounting, “He (Wilder) wavelike ‘we needed that.’ We both said the same thing because at first, it was looking like it was getting ready to go the distance.” The unexpected knockout outcome has invigorated Wilder’s team, providing a fresh perspective on the dynamics of the impending contest.
As talks intensify and anticipation builds, the collision between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder looms ever closer, promising an electrifying clash between two heavyweight titans in the ring.