Joshua vs. Wilder targets Turki Al-Sheikh for heavyweight clash
Turki Al-Sheikh wants to see the next fight between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder. It’s a fight that will draw huge interest from fans around the world despite both former heavyweight champions being well past their prime.
Joshua-Wilder is the fight the boxing world has wanted to see for the last decade, but the two have never been able to get a deal done. Deontay’s right hand is like old land mineburied in the ground for 60 years, but still dangerous. If Joshua activates that right hand of Deontay’s, he’ll be asleep.
Wilder’s career has fallen lower than Joshua’s, but both are pretty much on the same level as far as chins go. Joshua, 35, was knocked out in five rounds by IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois on September 21 in London.
Turkey’s plan
If Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) goes through with that fight against former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KOs), Turki wants him to fight challenger Martin Bakole in Africa. Bakole will fight Efe Ajagba in his next fight.
“I want to see Joshua and Wilder now. If Tyson is not available, why not Joshua and Wilder?” Turki Al-Sheikh said talkSport Boxing about the desire for a fight between the recently defeated Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua.
“We finished the fight between Bakole and Nigerian fighter Ajagba. After that, we want to see Joshua against Bakole. Me, I want to see this fight. Do you know where I want to see him? I want to see it in Africa.”
Wilder will boost his confidence against the assistant Curtis Harper on April 26 at BLK Prime in Atlanta. Considering how bad Deontay has looked over the past five years, you can’t rule out a win for the 36-year-old Harper.
Turki didn’t say if he would still be interested in using Deontay as an opponent for AJ if Harper beats him, but you’d have to assume that would make him ineligible. Wilder’s record would be 1-5 in his last six fights.
It’s bad enough that Deontay has lost four of his last five fights, but a loss to veteran Harper would be a clear signal that he’s not worth using as an opponent for Joshua.