Anthony Joshua Secures Two-Fight Riyadh Deal, Targets Fury Showdown
British heavyweight star Anthony Joshua is poised to make a highly anticipated return to the boxing ring in July, as part of a strategic two-fight agreement orchestrated by Turki Alalshikh's Riyadh Season. This development, reported by talkSPORT, marks Joshua's comeback after a hiatus since December, when he delivered a knockout victory over Jake Paul in a Netflix event that captivated 33 million households globally.
Joshua's Journey Back to the Ring
Following his last bout, Joshua faced personal tragedy when he was involved in a car accident in Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of his close friends and teammates, Sina Ghami and Latif "Latz" Ayodele. Despite this setback, Joshua has resumed training and was recently spotted ringside, witnessing long-time rival Tyson Fury's triumphant comeback win against Arslanbek Makhmudov. In the aftermath, Fury publicly challenged Joshua to finally settle their decade-long rivalry, setting the stage for a potential blockbuster clash.
Deal Details and Wilder's Exclusion
Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has confirmed that while a fight with Fury is slated for later this year, Joshua will first engage in a warm-up bout in July. Initially, Deontay Wilder appeared as a likely opponent, especially after Wilder called out Joshua following his own victory over Derek Chisora. However, Wilder's recent performance, which many critics described as lackluster and far from his peak form, has raised concerns.
The Saudi organizers, keen to avoid any risks that could jeopardize the highly anticipated Joshua vs. Fury matchup, have opted to exclude Wilder from the two-fight deal. Hearn elaborated on this decision in an interview with talkSPORT, stating, "The deal that we have been offered to fight in July and then fight Tyson Fury in November is not with Deontay Wilder in mind. The powers that be don’t really want us to be in that type of fight."
Strategic Path Forward
Hearn emphasized that Joshua is willing to face both Wilder and Fury consecutively, but the current offer prioritizes the Fury encounter as the ultimate goal. "This is an offer that has been made by Turki Alalshikh, Ring and Riyadh Season, wherever that fight could be in July and then fight Tyson Fury. That is the deal that has been proposed to us at the moment, and that looks like the route that we will take," Hearn explained.
He further noted that while Matchroom would typically promote a Wilder fight first, the Saudi-backed deal focuses on securing the Fury bout as the pinnacle event. "There will be a lot of people who won’t want to go into a fight that they feel is risky and put that fight in jeopardy. We have no problem fighting Wilder, but I don’t think it will be Wilder under the basis of this deal," Hearn concluded, highlighting the cautious approach to ensure the marquee matchup remains intact.
This two-fight arrangement underscores the strategic planning in heavyweight boxing, with Joshua's return and the potential Fury clash generating significant excitement among fans worldwide.
