Deontay Wilder’s trainer Malik Scott said that a heavyweight fight with Anthony Joshua is almost confirmed. Joshua recently returned to the ring, defeating Jermaine Franklin with a comfortable points decision to regain momentum after back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk. Shortly after his victory, talks were opened with American heavyweight star Wilder about a potential mega-fight, with Saudi Arabia making a lucrative bid as part of a proposed four-fighter tournament in December.
AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn offered positive updates on the talks, insisting both teams are open to a clash and talks are progressing well. But in perhaps the most optimistic update yet, Wilder’s trainer believes the fight is now a mere formality, with only contracts left to be signed.
“Without going into too much detail about the business side of it, everything has been said, discussed, agreed, but nothing has been signed. But the signing is almost upon us. Negotiations are definitely happening. The business aspect is definitely negotiated. The date too.”, he told Betway.
Saudi tourney with Fury, Joshua, Wilder & Usyk in line for potential shock twist https://t.co/M87SQ9MZD0
— Sun Sport (@SunSport) May 17, 2023
“And most of all, Deontay Wilder is being taken care of and he’s going to be paid very well for his participation, and that’s the most important part to me. I can confirm that the goal is to do both fights on the same night, but the only fight that I know for sure is highly likely to happen and is being negotiated is Deontay vs. AJ.”
“My prediction is a third or fourth round knockout, Deontay will win by knockout. “I don’t want to put too much weight on AJ or anything, but he’s not in the same class as Deontay.”