By Charles Brun: Deontay Wilder’s trainer Malik Scott confirms that negotiations are underway for a fight against Anthony Joshua in December in Saudi Arabia.
Scott is hopeful the fight between the two former heavyweight champions Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) and Joshua can get made because he feels that it’s a match that would be “good for boxing” if it gets made.
In his interview today, Malik was all over the place, talking about Joshua, Usyk, and Ruiz. At points, it just seemed like Malik was yammering a stream of consciousness without making much sense—such a confusing mess.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn hasn’t commented on who AJ plans on fighting in December, but it was previously believed that it’d be Wilder or Tyson Fury. Those are the fights the Saudis would be most interested in staging in their country in December.
Many boxing fans are doubtful that Hearn would allow his golden goose Joshua anywhere near Wilder, as he’s a colossal puncher that could wreck what’s left of AJ’s career with a single blow.
Most would agree that Joshua looked timid & afraid of his own shadow in his performance against Jermaine Franklin on April 1st.
“I can say that those rumors are true, [Joshua-Wilder] negotiations are going on, and big fights are going to be happening, not just with us, with a lot of top heavyweights,” said Malik Scott to iFL TV, the trainer for Deontay Wilder on a fight with Anthony Joshua. “That’s the only fight I want for Deontay.”
Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel hasn’t spoken up to confirm whether the negotiations with Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs) are indeed going on, so we’ve got to take what what Malik Scott is saying with a grain of salt. It could be just wishful thinking on his part.
“If we could fight Usyk, because he’s got all the belts, that’s a six-round fight for Deontay. I’m good with Deontay fighting Anthony Joshua. It’s not just good for boxing. It’s good for so many reasons and it’s a treat to society, a treat to culture.
“Deontay wants the fight. This whole side over here wants the fight. We’ll see what AJ does now; the ball is in his court, so we’ll see how he will take advantage of it. We’re ready,” said Scott. Deontay is looking to fight the Furys, the Usyks, the Ruizs.”
