Boxing: Joshua, Deontay to share card in Riyadh

Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder will fight on the same card in Riyadh on December 23 as a stepping stone to the pair meeting in the ring in 2024.

It is seen as the precursor to a series of heavyweight super-fights in Saudi Arabia in the new year between Joshua and Wilder, as well as Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

Both Joshua and Wilder are working to finish deals with Turki Alalshikh of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, the man most responsible for bringing Fury and Ngannou together last month.

While the plan is for the heavyweight rivals to face each other in 2024, the December card will have them in action in separate fights.

Promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn have come together with the likes of Top Rank to put on a pre-Christmas bill which also includes other heavyweights in Daniel Dubois taking on Jarrell Miller, and Dmitry Bivol facing Lyndon Arthur.

Warren said: “It’s something I’ve dreamed on getting all these fights. They’re all happening now. This is the start of many, the first of many big shows. It’s exciting times for the sport.”

Should those deals be finalised this week, two-time heavyweight champion Joshua will take on Wallin in the main event. The Swedish southpaw has won 26 of his 28 professional fights with his only blemish coming against Fury in 2019.

Wallin turned in an impressive display that night, opening a large cut above Fury’s eye with a well-timed right hand before falling to a decision defeat.

Also Read: Anthony Joshua Finally Agrees Terms To Deontay Wilder

Wilder meanwhile would take on former WBO champion Parker in the co-main event. The American has fought just one round of boxing in two years, knocking out Robert Helenius inside three minutes in October last year, his first and only fight since his trilogy defeat to Fury.

Parker meanwhile has rattled off three victories in 2023, part of the Fury vs Ngannou undercard last month where he knocked out Simon Kean in three rounds.

Fury has also been involved in the promotion of the fight. The WBC heavyweight champion had been scheduled to face Usyk on the date in question.

However, the Gypsy King’s bruising night at the office against Francis Ngannou in October has seen that date pushed back to February.

The December 23 card will include eight fights in all. Other heavyweight fighters who could be involved in the card are Filip Hrgovic, Arslanbek Makhmudov, Frank Sanchez and Junior Fa. Light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, who is still to fight in 2023 is expected to be involved, as could cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia.