WBC reveal winner of Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder will emerge as mandatory challenger for world heavyweight title, setting up a potential showdown with Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk
- There has been a lot of speculation about Anthony Joshua facing Deontay Wilder
- The pair will fight separately on Judgment Day in Saudi Arabia on Saturday
- He's ready! We now see a new and confident AJ – Listen to The Hook
The WBC has revealed that the winner of Anthony Joshua against Deontay Wilder will emerge as the mandatory challenger for the WBC world heavyweight champion.
The pair – former heavyweight champions – are part of a bumper card on Judgment Day in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Anthony Joshua will face Otto Wallin, while Wilder will face Joseph Parker.
There has been a lot of speculation about a fight between Joshua and Wilder for a while now and if they both win on Saturday, they are expected to face off on March 9.
Tyson Fury currently holds the WBC title, with the Gypsy King set to fight Oleksandr Usyk – the WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO and Ring Magazine champion – for the undisputed world heavyweight title on February 17.
The WBC revealed that the winner of the proposed fight between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder will emerge as the mandatory challenger for the WBC world heavyweight champion.
This would set up a possible showdown against Tyson Fury (left) or Oleksandr Usyk (right)
And WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman claimed that either Usyk or Fury could face Joshua or Wilder relatively soon if the latter combination were to go head-to-head in a highly anticipated fight.
“The Day of Judgment is an unprecedented event and it is a great tournament,” he said Boxing scene.
“If Wilder and Joshua fight, it will be a natural final elimination fight between WBC No. 1 challenger Wilder and No. 2 Joshua for the mandatory shot.
“We'll wait and see what happens on Saturday, but nothing is official at this point.”
“From what I understand, Fury-Usyk and Wilder-Joshua both have a rematch agreement.”
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman also claimed that the possible fights were long overdue
Sulaiman also stressed that the potential clashes between some of the world's biggest heavyweights were long overdue.
He continued: “I feel very excited. We have been striving for this for years. When Wilder was our champion (from 2015 to 2020), we gave him all the time and opportunity to compete against Joshua at the time.
“When Fury beat Wilder and became champion, we did several things in the process, hoping (for Fury) to start the fight with Joshua and then Usyk.
“So it's been a long process – a long process. Now it's happening and the WBC is proud, happy and supportive. It's a great time for boxing.'