ANTHONY JOSHUA and Deontay Wilder have set a date for their long-overdue grudge match, it’s been claimed.
The pair have been on a collision course for well over five years but have frustratingly yet to share the ring with one another.
But the duo, 34 and 38 respectively, are tantalisingly close to finally throwing down with one another.
All that remains for their mouth-watering match to be finalised is for them to win their respective bouts with Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia next month.
And according to reports, a spring showdown is on the cards.
That’s according to ESPN, who claim both fighters have agreed to a multi-million-pound Saudi showdown on March 9, 2024.
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Boxing fans around the world rejoiced at the reported news of the duo finally agreeing a date to fight one another.
One wrote on X: “Boom.”
Another said: “2024 is a promising year for boxing.”
And another said: “Boooooommm.”
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One remarked: “This is good s**t!”
Another chimed in: “Finally.”
The details of the pair’s blockbuster deal have not yet been revealed.
It’s likely, however, that a rematch clause will be included in the respective contracts.
The reported date for Joshua and Wilder’s eagerly-anticipated showdown comes just weeks after AJ promoter Eddie Hearn claimed their clash could take part in March.
He told The MacLife: “We had six weeks, really, when we received a phone call from Saudi Arabia to say, ‘Do you want to fight on the card?
“‘Otto Wallin is the opponent. And at the same time, we got offered fights for [Dmitry] Bivol and [Jai] Opetaia and AJ was up for it.
“He wanted to fight three times this year. Wilder is on the card; victory for both and the fight is inevitable.
“We got from a situation of it being pretty much agreed for January to not being agreed.
“But now we fight in December and hopefully we make the fight for March.”
Joshua himself alluded to a spring showdown telling TNT Sports: “2024.
“So I don’t put my foot in it, mid – not early not late.”
Fight fans around the world are hoping both men get through their respective Saudi assignments next weekend.
But AJ is still willing to throw down with the former WBC heavyweight champion even if Parker gets the better of him.
He said: “I’ll still fight Wilder, let’s not take our eyes off the prize.
“Also, do you know what it is as well, It’s all fun, but I want to become a three-time heavyweight champion of the world. That’s my main focus.
“But Wallin is also fighting for the mandatory position to fight for the IBF title as well.
“So if I can beat Wallin, God willing it works out, then that puts me in a position to fight for the mandatory where I can then compete for the title.
“So if Parker beats Wilder, they’re still part of that entertainment circle. But he’s not officially ranked with the IBF.
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“So for me, it’s good but it’s not part of my plan. But it’s still good entertainment.
“Parker would be a good fight, Wilder would be a good fight. I think anyone who fights me from an entertainment view makes a bit of noise.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
