Turki Alalshikh has revealed he wants a heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder to happen.
With Tyson Fury’s recent retirement announcement, the much anticipated Joshua vs Fury fight may never materialise, leaving the door open for an explosive alternative: Joshua vs Wilder.
Turki Alalshikh Wants Joshua vs Wilder
Turki Alalshikh, a key figure in Saudi Arabian boxing promotion, has openly expressed his desire to see Joshua take on Wilder. Speaking on talkSPORT, Alalshikh stated, “If Tyson [Fury] is not available, why not Joshua and Wilder?”
Simon Jordan countered Alalshikh, saying he’d prefer to see Joshua fight someone at the peak of their powers, such as Martin Bakole.
“I can understand why people would want to see it. I mean, I’d like to see Joshua fight someone like [Martin] Bakole,” Jordan said. “I think there’s real jeopardy in that fight. I’d like to see Joshua fighting someone that was at the front of their career.”
Alalshikh responded, saying, “We finished the deal with Bakole against the Nigerian fighters. [Efe] Ajagba or something like that. We finished that as they must do it because this is mandatory for the IBF.
“Then after that, we are open to see Joshua also against Bakole. I want to see this fight right. I want to see it, but you know where I want to see it. I want to see it in Africa.”
Potential Fight Location and Implications
While there have been discussions about Joshua potentially facing Martin Bakole in Africa, Wilder remains the most lucrative and high-profile option.
If the fight happens, it could take place in Saudi Arabia, which has hosted other recent mega-fights including Fury vs Usyk.
A Joshua vs Wilder fight would not only be a thrilling spectacle but also a career-defining moment for both fighters, with both men eager to bounce back from recent setbacks.
With Fury out of the picture for now, Saudi investors could be keen to set up an alternative blockbuster event featuring two of the division’s biggest names.
