In the world of boxing, the tantalizing prospect of a face-off between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder, two former champions, has captured the imagination of fight fans worldwide. Speculation has run rampant, with both sides suggesting that a bout in Saudi Arabia early in 2024 is on the brink of being finalized. However, history has taught us that this particular matchup has a knack for eluding concrete agreements.
This year, the narrative seemed poised for change, with neither Joshua nor Wilder holding titles and, consequently, no mandatory challengers to contend with. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, initially exuded confidence by proclaiming that the fight was ‘nailed on.’ Yet, more recent statements from Hearn have indicated that negotiations are still ongoing, leaving fans hanging in suspense.
Skill Challenge Promotions of Saudi Arabia has expressed a keen interest in orchestrating this monumental showdown, with claims that Wilder’s camp is equally enthusiastic.
However, the shadow of doubt cast by Tyson Fury’s brother and teammate, Shane Fury, has added a layer of uncertainty to the situation. In an eyebrow-raising interview with Boxing King Media, Shane dropped a bombshell by asserting that, behind the scenes, the fight was ‘dead in the water.’ He didn’t hold back in his assessment of Eddie Hearn, bluntly stating that he believed Hearn was ‘full of s**t.’
“Eddie Hearn does say a lot of things, doesn’t he?” Shane mused. “He’s been promising that negotiations have been going on for Deontay Wilder and Joshua, but I can tell you inside information that it’s dead in the water.”
When pressed for more details, Shane seemed to imply that Skill Challenge was not currently actively pursuing the fight, casting further doubt on the match’s viability.
Eddie Hearn’s recent statements tell a different story, as he recently told Boxing Social that Wilder was still the plan for early next year. However, he did leave the door open for an interim December fight for Joshua if the Saudi bout failed to materialize in January.
As the conflicting narratives swirl and boxing fans around the world eagerly await a resolution, the suspense surrounding this elusive heavyweight showdown continues to mount.
