Joshua to fight Wilder in December

Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has confirmed work is underway over a "big fight" with Deontay Wilder for December but has not ruled out a summer bout beforehand.

The former two-time world heavyweight champion returned to winning ways on April 1 with a points success over Jermaine Franklin at O2 Arena.

Joshua stated immediately after his target was a quick return to the ring in June or July but put up a post on Instagram earlier this month that suggested December would be his next fight.

Talk has rumbled on in the background regarding a clash with ex-WBC champion Wilder, who has told American media he would be up for finally taking on the Briton.

It was back in 2019 when an eagerly anticipated unification fight between the pair was mooted and it could finally be on the horizon with promoter Eddie Hearn set to visit Saudi Arabia next week to hold discussions.

"In December potentially there is a big fight that should be cracking with me and Wilder," Joshua told an audience at the Under Armour store located inside Battersea Power Station.

"It has been a long time coming. There are a lot of moving shapes at the minute, there is a lot of things happening and moving shapes so one step at a time.

"But it has been a long time coming, for sure."

Speculation has been rife that Joshua could face Wilder in Saudi Arabia in a blockbuster event where Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk would also do battle in a unification fight on the same evening.

Promoter Hearn said earlier on Thursday: "From our side Anthony Joshua is ready to sign to fight Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury, subject to contract, which has never been a problem for us in Saudi because we've always found a deal.

"It looks like - and I can't tell you until I go - they want to do this huge night of Usyk against Fury and Joshua against Wilder.

"It sounds bizarre, it sounds mad, but it's the kind of place where that could happen. We're all in and we'll go next week, look them in the eye and we'll see where we get to.

"We're up for it. I'm going out to Saudi next week to have those conversations, to start the process to see if it's real or not. I know it's real because I've dealt with those guys before.

"There's four fighters they are going to have to sign, but we're happy to fight Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia in December."

Joshua recently returned from a holiday with his son and other members of his family in Dubai and insisted he would be happy to fight in the summer before a potential bout with Wilder in December.

Meanwhile, Wilder make a chilling threat to  Joshua and predicts how fight would go down as he confirms Saudi talks

He told EsNews: "I'mma just put it like this, I'll just keep it sweet, I'mma give Saudi their first knockout victim.

"I can deliver that for you, they haven't had that much excitement as far as knockouts. I'mma bless them real good.  

"Any Deontay Wilder fight you can expect that, but this one's going to be real special.

"I've got something special that I'm gonna put on the punch with this one.”