Anthony Joshua vs Deontay wilder

Anthony Joshua: IPSWICH, England – It feels like we’ve been here before, and many times, but Matchroom have again voiced their desire to match Anthony Joshua with Deontay Wilder.

The pair Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder were linked with a fight to decide the undisputed champion when both men held all variations of the heavyweight titles in 2018-19. The failure to agree to what would have been one of the biggest fights in boxing history saw both take different routes. Wilder would ultimately lose his WBC belt to Tyson Fury and endured defeats to Andy Ruiz Jnr (avenged) and Oleksandr Usyk (not avenged).

Anthony Joshua and Wilder have not fought since knockout defeats last year to Daniel Dubois and Zhilei Zhang respectively.

Speculation over the return of Joshua started last week when the heavyweight’s promoter Eddie Hearn revealed to BoxingScene that Joshua was in talks with Riyadh Season over a two-fight deal after having surgery on an injured elbow. The likes of Dillian Whyte and Jared Anderson were among the names discussed for a bout that would likely land in Autumn. Whyte was due to have a run out on this Saturday’s card in Ipswich, England – topped by Fabio Wardley and Justis Huni – but Whyte was pulled with a “major fight” announcement seemingly imminent.

READ MORE : ANTHONY JOSHUA is in talks over a new two-fight deal – but it

“[It’s] not Anthony Joshua, but I hear they’ve got a big fight lined up for him,” Matchroom CEO, Frank Smith told BoxingScene. “Look, Dillian Whyte is a big name in the sport, we all know that and whatever it is, I’m excited to hear.”

So with Whyte seemingly out of the picture as an opponent for Joshua’s return, Smith was asked who would likely be in the opposing corner.

“I personally like the Deontay Wilder fight myself, I think there’s so much narrative there,” Smith said. “He’s got a comeback fight I think next month or this month and that’s a massive fight. AJ’s in a great position, he’s still commercially the biggest draw in the sport I believe… but we’ve got to make the right decision and this is the biggest decision he’ll make of his career. So, get back in the gym, get 100 per cent, and then we’ll go for it.”

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