After seven years of anticipation, heavyweight boxers Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua are set to face off in a highly-anticipated fight in Saudi Arabia this December.

“I respect what he has done and what he has done in this division. It is hard to become a champion and he did it so I have to respect that,” said Joshua, who won the IBF, WBA, and WBO titles simultaneously in 2018.

In preparation for the fight, Joshua celebrated a comeback victory over Jermaine Franklin and has been working hard to return to the top of the division. “It’s going to be a tough fight but I am confident in myself. I’m a better, more well-rounded athlete, a better, more well-rounded fighter,” he said.

The fight between Wilder and Joshua has been part of Joshua’s three-fight strategy to regain the title of heavyweight world champion. There have also been rumors that the fight will be part of a fantastic four-man tournament featuring other top heavyweight boxers such as Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.

According to Joshua, the fight is “95 percent there,” despite Wilder’s promise of a three-round knockout victory in Saudi Arabia. “In terms of it getting delivered [from my side], I honestly believe it is 95 percent there,” Joshua said.

Boxing fans around the world eagerly anticipate what promises to be a tough showdown between two heavyweight contenders.

Advertisement