An intriguing heavyweight bout could possibly have an encore.
For most of the past year former heavyweight titlists Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua have been rumored to be finalizing plans to meet in the ring for a high-profile fight in Saudi Arabia.
Now, in an interview that was published on Thursday, Wilder, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, insisted that he is working to create a package deal with London’s Joshua that could possibly see them fight twice.
Wilder said the potential deal would involve fighting in Saudi Arabia and then in Africa.
Earlier this week, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, said he expects both camps to strike a deal in “two or three weeks” for a fight early next year. Hearn added that the only way the fight can fall apart at this point is if the financial backer, Saudi Arabia-based Skill Challenge, fails to come up with the money.
“As far as the boxing stuff, everybody knows the Joshua situation,” Wilder told ESNews. “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 proposed a similar scenario earlier this year involving a two-fight deal, with one based in Africa, with regards to former UFC champion Francis Ngannou. The Cameroonian mixed martial artist, however, is scheduled to take on WBC champion Tyson Fury on Oct. 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Interestingly, Wilder said that the offer he is currently getting from Africa for a two-fight deal with Joshua is substantial, to the tune of $200 million, or enough to “overbid” backers in Saudi Arabia.
“In Africa, they willing to overbid Saudi right now,” Wilder said. “They was gonna bid $200 million—100 [dollars] apiece.”
Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) has not fought since stopping Robert Helenius in one round in October of last year.
Joshua (26-3, 23 KOs) faced Helenius earlier this month, stopping the Finnish contender in seven rounds.
Sean Nam is the author of Murder on Federal Street: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, and the Last Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing.