Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder will fight on the same card this year, just not against one another.
It’s being promoted as a step in the right direction, with a win for Joshua over Otto Wallin and Wilder over Joseph Parker promising to make the long-awaited transatlantic clash in the first half of 2024.
There has been praise for matching up fighters from across promotions and broadcaster divides, the catalyst being the involvement of Saudi Arabia, in particular, Riyadh Season – the same festival that put together Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou and will be at the helm for Fury’s undisputed bout against Oleksandr Usyk.
Frank Warren fronted the press conference in London recently, his Queensberry staff taking on supporting roles and leaving rival promoter Eddie Hearn, in the back seat.
Fans were surprised then to see reports that the event will land on DAZN PPV – broadcast partner to Hearn’s Matchroom – in the UK and US, rather than being exclusive to Warren’s TNT Sports Box Office and Bob Arum’s ESPN. There may be a dual broadcast scenario that could see both platforms also offer the show.
Hearn soon confirmed the news on X.
Live globally on @daznboxing 🚀!!!! #DayOfReckoning#RiyahdSeason @turkialalshik 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/1M5t2PzD6l
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) November 24, 2023
Fans will pay £19.99 in the UK and $39.99 in the USA for the pleasure.
Joshua-Wallin is expected to take the headline slot given the former’s exclusive deal with DAZN, leaving Wilder-Parker as co-main. Should both favourites come through with the victory, they’re looking to face off in the first half of 2024.