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The duel between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder is in danger of being canceled in Saudi Arabia. This uncertain situation frustrated coach Deontay Wilder, Malik Scott / Photo: Evening Standard
The duel between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder is in danger of being canceled in Saudi Arabia. This uncertain situation frustrated Deontay Wilder’s coach, Malik Scott.
Earlier this week, promoter Eddie Hearn appeared to put the brakes on a potential fight in Saudi Arabia early next year between his client, Anthony Joshua, and Deontay Wilder, even though both sides had agreed. Eddie Hearn blamed the sudden hitch on the turbulent business climate in Saudi Arabia and suggested that the fight could take place outside the country.
“Politically, it sounds like there’s a lot going on,” Hearn told Boxing King Media. “This doesn’t just have to happen in Saudi Arabia. There is currently other talk about other countries that could happen. … There is a movement of management and ownership of boxing in Saudi and it is up to them what they want to do. If they don’t roll out Joshua -Wilder, maybe they’ll have it somewhere else.”
When asked to respond to Hearn’s claims, Deontay Wilder trainer Malik Scott expressed his dismay at the situation.
“It’s a real frustration, because for me, of all people, Deontay is the most inactive person,” Scott told ESNews. “Lots of promises, but they seem a bit broken. But we’ll see.”
Deontay Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) has not fought since beating Robert Helenius in one round in October last year. It was Wilder’s first fight in 12 months since his 11th-round loss to Tyson Fury in the third fight of their trilogy. He was expected to fight Andy Ruiz Jr earlier this spring, but talks for that fight fell through due to payment issues.
Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua (26-3, 23 KOs) has fought twice this year – a unanimous decision win over Jermaine Franklin in April and a seventh-round knockout over Helenius last month – and has expressed his desire for a third fight in a calendar year. .
(fly)