Deontay Wilder’s trainer, Malik Scott, has commented on the recent reports that his fighter’s expected clash against Anthony Joshua could be in jeopardy.
Wilder and Joshua have been linked to a fight for years, at one point a deal was close which would have seen the two compete to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis.
Since then both men have lost their world titles – Wilder to current WBC champion, Tyson Fury, and ‘AJ’ to former undisputed cruiserweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk. Although the two no longer hold any belts, it doesn’t seem to have taken away the intrigue from the matchup, with many in sport still believing it to be the most exciting fight in the division.
The two finally looked set to face each other after both parties agreed terms for a fight in Saudi Arabia, scheduled to take place early next year. But reports have started to surface online that movements in the sporting landscape in the region have made a deal less likely.
Speaking to ESNEWS, Scott revealed his frustration at the situation and said it seemed that ‘promises were being broken’.
“I just know that Deontay was training yesterday and the day before that he was training. I don’t know what they’re talking about but we’ll see.
It’s a real frustrating situation, really it is, because for as for as everybody, Deontay is the one as far as activity is the one who misses out. There were a lot of promises and seems like those promises are being broken a little bit, but we’ll see.”
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn is still hopeful they can put pen to paper on the deal but admitted they are now looking at other territories to host the fight.