Former heavyweight champions Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder, who are scheduled to face different opponents at the “Day of Reckoning: Fight Night” in Saudi Arabia, have reportedly reached a landmark agreement for a future showdown. According to renowned boxing insider Dan Rafael, Joshua and Wilder have finalized “all terms” for a two-fight deal. The anticipation is high for their official contract signing, slated to occur ahead of Saturday’s event. Rafael disclosed that the core components of the deal, particularly the financial aspects, for a marquee battle between Joshua and Wilder on March 9 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were settled over a week ago. Despite this progress, there remained several unresolved matters until recently.
‼️ Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder is reportedly now fully agreed as a TWO-FIGHT DEAL with first planned for March 9th in Saudi. It's claimed contracts are expected to be signed before AJ vs Otto Wallin and Wilder vs Joseph Parker on Saturday night. [According to @DanRafael1] pic.twitter.com/DQLdqgFqmO
This breakthrough in negotiations was achieved following a critical meeting with officials from Riyadh Season, the organization responsible for funding major boxing events in Saudi Arabia. A pivotal condition for this highly anticipated fight is the success of both Joshua and Wilder in their respective upcoming bouts at the Day of Reckoning event.
Joshua is set to go up against Otto Wallin, aiming for his third victory this year following triumphs over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius, the latter ending in a seventh-round knockout. Wilder, who has been out of the ring for 14 months, last celebrated a win against Helenius with a first-round knockout in October 2022. Wilder expressed his hopes for Joshua’s success, acknowledging the significance and magnitude of their potential future bout.
The sporting world eagerly anticipates this clash of titans, as Joshua seeks to maintain his winning momentum and Wilder makes a high-stakes return to the ring. Their respective encounters on Saturday serve not only as individual challenges but also as stepping stones to one of the most eagerly awaited fights in recent heavyweight history. The success of both fighters this weekend will set the stage for a duel that promises to captivate boxing fans worldwide, marking a significant moment in the sport’s history.
