IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (21-0, 20 KOs) is hoping to face WBC champion Deontay Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) - even if Wilder loses his upcoming fight with Tyson Fury.
Joshua is scheduled to face WBA mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin of Russia on September 22 at Wembley in London, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
The winner of Wilder vs. Fury will become the frontrunner to face Joshua on April 13, at Wembley - which is the next scheduled date for the Olympic gold medal winner's return.
Wilder and Joshua were in talks to fight this fall, but their negotiations fell apart over money, with both champions deciding to go in different directions.
If one of them ends up getting shocked in the upcoming defenses, the mega-fight would blow up in smoke.
But regardless of what happens, says Joshua, he still wants a piece of Wilder in the future.
Wilder is open to facing Joshua in April - but not under the offered terms, which includes a flat fee guarantee of $15 million for bout. Wilder is looking for a 50-50 revenue split.
"We're going to fight regardless because we're the same weight category, and we're in the same era, and it's the fight that people want to see," Joshua told Sky Sports News.
"Yeah, we're going to fight each other, but it's interesting, because let's say worst happens with Povetkin, it don't stop me from having to fight them. They will still want to fight me, because we're big in the game. That fight will happen regardless who wins.
"If Wilder gets beat in that fight with Fury, I'll still fight Wilder down the line, or if Fury gets beat. With boxing, one corner loses, one corner wins, but because it's still a fight that the public will demand - big puncher, good stylistic fighter, good talkers - there will always be interest around the name of heavyweight boxing."
2023-10-21 17:18:11
