Turki Al-Sheikh wants to see a fight between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder next. It’s a fight that will attract much interest from fans worldwide despite both former heavyweight champions being well past their primes.
Joshua-Wilder is a fight the boxing world has wanted to see for the last decade, but the two have never been able to put a deal together. Deontay’s right hand is like an old landmine, buried in the earth for 60 years, but still dangerous. If Joshua triggers that right hand of Deontay’s, he will sleep.
Wilder’s career has sunk lower than Joshua’s, but they’re both pretty much at the same level chin-wise. Joshua, 35, was crushed in five rounds by IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois on September 21st in London.
Turki’s Plan
If Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) comes through that fight against the former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KOs), Turki wants him to fight contender Martin Bakole in Africa. Bakole will be fighting Efe Ajagba in his next fight.
“I want to see Joshua and Wilder now. If Tyson is not available, why not Joshua and Wilder?” said Turki Al-Sheikh to talkSport Boxing about wanting to make a fight between recently beaten Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua.
“We finished the fight between Bakole and the 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 it? I want to see it in Africa.”
Wilder has a confidence booster against journeyman Curtis Harper on April 26th on BLK Prime in Atlanta. Given how poor Deontay has looked in the last five years, you can’t rule out a victory for the 36-year-old Harper.
Turki hasn’t said whether he would still be interested in using Deontay as an opponent for AJ if he gets beaten by Harper, 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 out of his last five fights, but a loss to the old veteran Harper would be a clear signal that he’s not worth using as an opponent for Joshua.
