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Former heavyweight champions Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder are gearing up for separate high-stakes matchups on Saturday night in Saudi Arabia. Joshua is scheduled to face Otto Wallin, while Wilder is set to take on Joseph Parker.
Should Joshua and Wilder emerge victorious, all indications point to a long-awaited showdown between the two on March 9. The winner of this potential bout would move one step closer to challenging for a major heavyweight title.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman expressed his anticipation for the potential clash, referring to it as an "unprecedented event" and a "natural final elimination bout" between Wilder, the WBC's No. 1 challenger, and Joshua, ranked No. 2, for a mandatory shot at the title.
"We'll wait to see what happens on Saturday, but at this time there is nothing [yet official]," Sulaiman stated in an interview.
Meanwhile, WBC titlist Tyson Fury is slated to face WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO, and Ring Magazine champion Oleksandr Usyk on February 17 for undisputed supremacy in the heavyweight division.
Sulaiman noted that both the Fury-Usyk and Wilder-Joshua matchups have rematch agreements in place, adding to the anticipation surrounding these upcoming fights.
Reflecting on the journey to these pivotal bouts, Sulaiman expressed his excitement, stating,
"We've been having a push for this for many years... It’s been a long process – a long due process. Now it’s happening, and the WBC is proud, happy, and supportive. It’s a great moment for boxing."
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