Anthony Joshua could fight Deontay Wilder in a final eliminator for Tyson Fury’s WBC title
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has confirmed that Anthony Joshua could face Deontay Wilder as the final eliminator to determine a mandatory contender for the heavyweight title.
Joshua and Wilder are expected to fight each other after competing in separate fights against Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia on December 23.
Sulaiman has now confirmed that AJ and Wilder will fight each other as a final eliminator for the WBC belt if they both emerge victorious from their respective fights in December.
However, they will have to wait a while to get their title shot, as Tyson Fury, who currently holds the WBC belt, will face Oleksandr Usyk – who currently holds the IBF, WBA and WBO belts – on February 17 in Saudi Arabia . .
Sulaiman also suggested there could be a rematch between Fury and Usyk, which could happen before Wilder or Joshua get their shot at the undisputed title.
“We were waiting, pushing, mediating and encouraging everyone to try and make this (Joshua v Wilder) happen,” Sulaiman told Sky Sport.
“When Wilder was champion, there were a few occasions where Wilder-Joshua came very close. The WBC left this window without interfering with anything that could get in the way. So with Tyson Fury, he was ready to fight Joshua and then Usyk.
“The problem that can happen is a mandatory candidate,” he continued. “We ordered Wilder against (Andy) Ruiz, which was a tremendous fight, to find a mandatory candidate.
‘That fight didn’t happen. Therefore, the WBC board of governors approved Fury against Usyk in February and then the rematch, so there is nothing in the way, as far as the WBC is concerned, for both fights to take place.
Sulaiman went on to talk in detail about the December 23rd card, saying: ‘In itself, it is a WBC natural elimination tournament. You have Wilder, No. 1, Joshua, you have Parker, you have Otto Wallin, all of these are highly ranked in the WBC. After December 23rd we will see a different picture in the rankings.’
He added: ‘It looks like Wilder and Joshua are on a collision course. This could very well be a final elimination to determine a mandatory contender for the WBC title.
Source: www.lindaikejisblog.com