Anthony Joshua is unlikely to face Deontay Wilder in 2023, as the Bronze Bomber already has his next two fights lined up ahead of a massive Pay Per View in Las Vegas next year.
As WBN confirmed, Wilder turned down an offer to meet with Anthony Joshua in Abu Dhabi this week as a fight with Andy Ruiz Jr. draws closer.
Wilder vs Ruiz Jr. is on the cards for the first quarter of 2023 in the world’s boxing capital.
A date of March 18 is already booked at the MGM Grand Garden Arena by Premier Boxing Champions and Tom Brown Sports.
May 6 could also be a consideration for Wilder vs Ruiz with the news Canelo Alvarez may not return on Cinco de Mayo weekend on May 5, 2023.
So WBN got a surprise to read that promoter Eddie Hearn was hoping to land a Wilder fight for his mount Joshua in the first half of next year.
There’s no way Deontay Wilder’s manager Al Haymon will give up his plan with the World Boxing Council, which has been in motion for over 18 months.
Haymon and WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman agreed to a four-fighter tournament to crown the next WBC heavyweight title mandatory challenger to Tyson Fury.
If Wilder decides to fight Joshua, he would be throwing away a year and a half of work by Haymon and his PBC team. Wilder has one fight left with the promotional company and will be Ruiz after he (Ruiz) out-pointed Luis Ortiz.
Anything Hearn states regarding a possible Wilder vs Joshua fight in the first six months of 2023 looks to be far-fetched.
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