ANTHONY JOSHUA could fight both Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia after his rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr.
If all goes well for the Brit this weekend, he will reclaim the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight world titles.
Anthony Joshua knows that a win against Andy Ruiz Jr on Saturday night could open the door to a unification fight against Deontay Wilder or Tyson FuryCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
That would then set him up perfectly to fight the winner of Deontay Wilder versus Tyson Fury, scheduled for February 22.
And boxing fans will also call for him to face the loser, with the three of them plus Ruiz Jr at the top of the sport’s tree.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn believes Saudi will now rivals the likes of London and Las Vegas to host these fights.
Despite its appalling human rights violations, the desert nation is seen as the perfect spot to host mega-money fights, with the country having a bottomless budget and offering fans easy travel options.
SAUDI WANTS WILDER VS AJ
Hearn said: “You’re going to be regularly coming out here for boxing. They want to make Saudi the home of boxing.
“That’s their plan and I know the fights they are looking at for next year. Since we’ve done this deal, everybody’s been on it.
“I believe Wilder and Tyson Fury had discussions about having their rematch here. But the one they really want is AJ against Wilder.”
Hearn admitted AJ would go ballistic if he failed to offer the Watford hero a mega-money clash in controversial Saudi with America’s WBC champ Wilder should he see off Ruiz Jr.
He added: “What am I going to do, go to AJ and say, ‘These are our options but I’m not comfortable doing it this way?’
“He’d go, ‘I suggest you f*** off’.”
SunSport reported how AJ could bank a staggering £66m from Saturday’s scrap, with the champ Ruiz Jr pocketing £10m.
And Hearn believes the main event could smash the UK pay-per-view record.
This is currently held by Joshua’s 11th-round stoppage win against Wladimir Klitschko back in 2017, amassing 1.5m PPVs.
Saudi chiefs are keen to get Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury fighting in their countryCredit: Reuters
Anthony Joshua says he hasn’t focused on his weight but on his boxing as he looks forward to Andy Ruiz Jr fight
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
