Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has said that a potential fight with Deontay Wilder is ‘95 per cent done’ on his side and could take place in December if the deal goes through.
Talks are happening in Saudi Arabia over a planned ‘tournament’ in which Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk may fight on the same card.
Joshua won his first fight in almost two years on April 1, defeating Jermaine Franklin. He had previously lost two consecutive fights to Usyk in 2021 and 2022.
He then stated that he would not return to the ring until December, thereby ruling out a summer showdown with either Fury or Dillian Whyte.
Joshua now looks set to face off against the former WBC World Champion Wilder at the end of the year in a fight that could have happened when they were both champions.
“From my experiences with Saudi, if they say they are going to do something, they are more than likely going to do it. So, that’s one end of it,” Joshua told Metro.
“And then you let the other guys do what they do. But as the man behind the scenes, it is important to start getting ready. In terms of it getting delivered, I honestly believe it is 95 percent there.
“He is good, I respect him, I don’t undermine him. That will make me raise my game. I respect what he has done and what he has done in this division. It is hard to become a champion, and he did it, so I have to respect that,” the British-Nigerian said.