BOXING could be braced for a stunning four-man heavyweight tournament in Saudi Arabia if shock rumours are to be believed.
TalkSPORT’s outspoken sports pundit Simon Jordan claimed Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury would be involved.
It would see AJ fight Wilder with Fury against Usyk, both in December, allowing the winners to meet in a final.
It comes after Joshua revealed he would not be back in the ring until December, for a reason soon to be revealed.
Jordan said: “There’s a lingering observation and, I suppose rumour, that’s seeded I think in some substance – that there is a series of fights being arranged in the Middle East that involve Fury, Usyk, Joshua and Wilder.
“Three fights being made which is Fury vs Usyk, Wilder vs Joshua and the two winners of those fights meeting again in the Middle East for the ultimate showdown.
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“That would align with the dynamic of the reasons why Anthony Joshua isn’t fighting until December.”
Joshua, 33, beat Jermaine Franklin, 29, on points over 12 rounds in his return fight at the start of April.
And Eddie Hearn wanted it to be the first of three as part of an active 2023 for AJ.
But Joshua days later posted on Instagram: “My next fight is scheduled for December.
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“Not ideal but everything is part of a bigger picture.”
Wilder, 37, meanwhile has been out since October when he knocked out Robert Helenius in round one of his comeback bout.
The American is now back training and was in talks for a crossover fight with ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou.
Fury, 34, has also now been left without an opponent after his deal to unify all four belts with Usyk, 36, collapsed.
Terms were scrapped amid a row over financials for a potential rematch, leaving both in the lurch.
Usyk has since been ordered into a mandatory WBA title defence against Daniel Dubois, 25, with talks ongoing.
But Fury is left to seal a return fight in the summer, which promoter Bob Arum revealed could be against Andy Ruiz Jr, 33.
If all goes to plan, it would allow them to re-visit the undisputed decider with Usyk at the end of the year in the Middle East.
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Jordan said: “The second part of this equation that I’m understanding is potentially in the offing is that Fury needs to fight.
“He won’t have fought since December, he can’t be out for a year.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
