Deontay Wilder has promised the people of Saudi Arabia their ‘first knockout victim’ as he talks up a potential fight with heavyweight rival, Anthony Joshua.
The two men were once tipped to fight to crown an undisputed champion in the division, but losses to Tyson Fury on Wilder’s part and Oleksandr Usyk for ‘AJ’ have left them belt-less.
It’s their contender status that has now been a catalyst for rumours that the Middle East are looking to stage the bout between them, with the winner first in line to face either Fury or Usyk after their own fight.
Wilder told ES News he was open to fighting Joshua in Saudi Arabia, and smiled when his trainer, Malik Scott, signalled that the fight wouldn’t last three rounds.
The fighter himself didn’t make as precise a prediction, but is confident of a stoppage.
“What we expecting? I’m gonna just put it like this, I’ll just keep it sweet – I’m gonna give Saudi their first knockout victim.”
Wilder has stopped every man he’s faced other than Tyson Fury, who he knocked down four times over three fights but couldn’t finish the job.
Because of that factor, paired with Joshua’s own power and the US vs UK rivalry, it’s been a fight high up on the lists of fans for years.
Despite past talks falling at the first hurdle, there’s been a general sense of optimism now that both men are coming towards the end of their careers and have both tasted defeat.
If there’s any power in boxing that can make it happen, it seems to be the Middle East – a territory bullish in its pursual of big money bouts.
Whilst the idea of the four-man heavyweight tournament has been confirmed by those both Wilder and Joshua’s teams, many fans still believe it to be unlikely.