Talks underway for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that representatives in the Middle East want to stage Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder on the same night in December in a mega deal worth up to $400 million in fighter purses.
Hearn said, "For AJ, one thing’s for sure his big fight, and it will come in the Middle East, will be in December and that will be Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder.
"That’s what we’re planning. I will be going out next week to meet people to discuss AJ’s fight in December.
"There is definitely conversations that have taken place, just of plans, where people would like to host Fury against Usyk and AJ against Wilder on the same night.
"It’s going to cost a lot of money, but would be epic and we will have those conversations."
Wilder's trainer Malik Scott also confirmed the news in an interview with IFL TV yesterday, "What I can say is that the things that people are hearing, is not fibs and negotiations have begin."
Scott and Wilder have been attending meetings together for a mega fight in Saudi Arabia, "The negotiations are definitely intact," he confirmed.
"Those fights that people are mentioning, those headline, those big cards, those ultimate fights, that type of boxing is about to be back on the menu. I remember Don King used to do fights like that here in the States where he would have five blockbusters on the same card. Do you remember those cards? This was a thing at one time, Saudi Arabia is doing things like that."
On the subject of his heavyweight charge, Deontay Wilder, who hasn't fought since a one-round demolition of Robert Helenius in October last year, Scott said, "He's ready to get back in the ring, but more important than anything, he's healthy and ready to become two-time heavyweight champion of the world.
"We've got some options as you all know, some very big options, the talks of the Usyk thing, we'll see if that can possibly happen; you know [Andy] Ruiz is always on the menu because of the PBC connection."
Scott also said that the level his former long-reigning WBC champ is at means that there will only ever be 1-3 potential opponents for him, such as Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk, but discounted Jermaine Franklin.
If Fury and Usyk meet, the winner will become the first four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion in the sport’s history.
And to as Joshua-Wilder to the same card would mean the four top heavyweights in the world all fighting on the same night. Plus, the winners will be forced to face each other next, as the public would demand it.
The Middle East are likely to be the only place in the world that could make a plan of this magnitude happen, but talks are still in their infancy, so there's no guarantees yet.
BBN Editor, Tim Rickson, added, "With both Hearn and Scott confirming talks are underway and AJ's next fight being delayed until December, there's clearly going to be a big fight coming, so that's exciting. However, after Fury-Joshua broke down last year, Fury-Usyk the same thing this year, I won't get carried away until I see the contracts signed and the official fight posters realeased.
"Regarding how the fights could go, I have always maintained that Fury will be too big for Usyk. He managed to beat AJ because of the difference in skill levels and talent, but against Fury, he wouldn't have that advantage. And for Wilder-Joshua, I'm fearful for AJ in that fight. I think he only has to take one big shot from Wilder and it'll be over, and it's now 'if' Wilder lands, it's 'when' Wilder lands, because he will land, he always does. Joshua is big, muscly and rigid, and Wilder will probably find him an easy target to hit and will just line up that right hand and end the fight early in my opinion."
Article sponsored by HÖRFA
