Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder will fight on the same card in Riyadh on December 23 as a stepping stone to the pair meeting in the ring in 2024.
Promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn have come together with the likes of Top Rank to put on a pre-Christmas bill which also includes other heavyweights in Daniel Dubois taking on Jarrell Miller, and Dmitry Bivol facing Lyndon Arthur.
The fights will officially be announced in a press conference in London later today by Warren’s Queensberry Promotions.
It is seen as the precursor to a series of heavyweight super fights in Saudi Arabia in the new year between Joshua and Wilder, as well as Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
Warren said: “It’s something I’ve dreamed on getting all these fights. They’re all happening now. This is the start of many, the first of many big shows. It’s exciting times for the sport.”
The December 23 card will include eight fights in all.
Fury has also been involved in the promotion of the fight. The WBC heavyweight champion had been scheduled to face Usyk on the date in question.
But that has been delayed next year after Fury sustained injuries against a surprisingly obdurate Francis Ngannou at the start of Riyadh season.
A new date for Fury-Usyk is expected to be announced in due course with February looking the likeliest outcome.
