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21st April 2023
12:27pm BST
Anthony Joshua believes he is "95% there" to confirming a fight with Deontay Wilder in December.
The two-time heavyweight world champion got back to winning ways earlier this month when he secured a unanimous points win over Jermaine Franklin at the O2 Arena.
This was the first stage of his three-fight plan to return to the top of the division.
Having previously said he would fight three times this year, AJ then confirmed he would not be in action again until December - but it sounds like it could be worth the wait.
The 33-year-old is close to finally securing a showdown with the big-hitting Deontay Wilder, a fight that fans have been asking for ever since Joshua won his first world title in 2016.
Wilder had become world champion the year earlier, and after defending his title on 10 occasions, ended up taking on Tyson Fury, who ended his reign as WBC world champion in February 2020.
Joshua and Wilder were tipped to clash after the Brit became unified IBF, WBA and WBO champion in 2018, but this never materialised.
Despite the pair having lost their world titles since then, a clash between them would still be a huge occasion, with the winner likely being able to go on and challenge Fury or Usyk. Meanwhile it could be the end of the road for whoever comes out second best.
The fight would take place in Saudi Arabia, the scene of Joshua's fight against Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019 and his rematch with Usyk last summer.
And it is possible that AJ vs the Bronze Bomber could take place on the same night as a blockbuster unification bout between Fury and Usyk.
The Saudis are planning what would surely be the biggest ever night in boxing, according to reports, and Joshua reckons the plans are realistic.
He told the Metro: "From my experiences with Saudi, if they say they are going to do something, they are more than likely going to do it.
"So that’s one end of it. And then you let the other guys [promoter Eddie Hearn, his management team] do what they do. But as the man behind the scenes, it is important to start getting ready."
Speaking about Wilder, he said: "He is good, I respect him, I don’t undermine him. That will make me raise my game.
"I respect what he has done and what he has done in this division. It is hard to become a champion and he did it so I have to respect that.
"It’s going to be a tough fight but I am confident in myself. I’m a better, more well-rounded athlete, a better, more well-rounded fighter.
"In terms of it getting delivered [from my side], I honestly believe it is 95 per cent there."
Joshua continued: "The money will always be there, it just depends on how much of it you want. I feel the fight will always generate an income and we all work for an income. Sometimes a lot of people, they sell themselves.
"I don’t know, I wish we had got this fight on before years ago, it shouldn’t have taken the big offer to get it over the line. We have just got to want to fight. If you do good business outside of the ring you make money in the ring.
"But you have to want to fight regardless. It is not about the deal being right, that’s the wrong mindset."
Come on guys, make it happen.
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