Joshua set for heavyweight tourney in December

Anthony Joshua’s decision to delay his second fight in 2023 until December has been linked with talks over a four-man heavyweight tournament with Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Oleksandr Usyk.

The British-Nigerian made his comeback after back-to-back defeats by Usyk when he outpointed Jermaine Franklin in London to return to winning ways. It was expected Joshua would continue a rebuild of his heavyweight career this summer, after urging fans to remain patient with him as he continues to step up the levels of opponent again.

A second meeting against Dillian Whyte touted for the summer given their respective victories over Franklin. However, Joshua stunned the world by announcing on social media that his next fight would be delayed until December.

Radio hot Simon Jordan on talkBOXING recently disclosed rumors regarding a potential mega three-fight Saudi deal. He said on the talkBOXING show; “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. That would align with the dynamic of the reasons why Joshua isn’t fighting until December. 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. He will (fight in the summer). What I’m led to believe is he will get out against Andy Ruiz.

“When you see that make-up, if it were to be that way, money talks. And if the Middle Eastern guys are really doing this, then they will throw the money at it and the fights will happen.”

Joshua has been heavily linked with a shot against Wilder for several years including an undisputed fight when the pair held all four belts. However it failed to materialise but it could come to the fore along with a revival of the recently-collapsed showdown between Fury and Usyk.

The 33-year-old’s promoter hinted that a potential offer could be on the table but he may still decide to regain momentum in the summer. “We’re not ruling that out,” he said on the DAZN Boxing Show.

“If a big offer comes in or a big site comes in (we will take the fight right away) unlikely in July. But I just really want to see momentum (from Joshua).”