Fans were told that all roads for Anthony Joshua lead to Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia, but Tony Bellew – friend and former stablemate to ‘AJ’ – has heard there’s an even bigger fight in the works.
Following his two consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua signed up Texan trainer Derrick James and won his two bounce-back-bouts. The idea then was to continue with advanced talks with Wilder – also a former world champion – to make a Saudi showdown in early 2024.
Despite no official word that the negotiations have slowed, former cruiserweight world champion Bellew told Bitcoin Casinos that he believes Joshua’s team are back on the idea of a fight with domestic rival and current WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury.
“I am hearing rumours that have stopped at the minute and are looking more towards Fury vs AJ again instead of AJ and Wilder. The talk is of another fight going to Africa, which would be absolutely incredible. Rumble in the Jungle all over again in Zaire or something along those lines.”
Fury, undefeated, has offered Joshua a fight twice in the last twelve months, but how solid the details have been is up for debate.
He is currently set to face MMA star Francis Ngannou in a crossover bout on October 28, with the general consensus being that after victory he will re-enter talks with the division’s other champion, Usyk, for an undisputed fight.
Fans of the heavyweight scene will withhold any excitement accordingly, given that the division has been one of the most disappointing across the entire sport in terms of matchmaking of late.