19 April 2023 , 09:29
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Deontay Wilder's trainer is only interested in fighting Anthony Joshua amid talks of the pair competing in an unprecedented heavyweight tournament in Saudi Arabia.
Wilder is currently in talks with Saudi officials over a bout with Joshua that would serve as the co-main event to an undisputed title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. The former world champions would compete in a semi-final of sorts, with the winner likely to be the first title defence for the Fury vs Usyk winner.
And his coach Malik Scott has insisted Joshua is the only fighter he's concerned about with Wilder, as talks of a WBC title eliminator with Andy Ruiz Jr hit a stand-still. The hard-hitting heavyweight returned to the ring in October with a thudding knockout of Robert Helenius at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and is right back in title contention.
“That [Joshua fight] is the only fight I want for Deontay," Scott said in an interview with IFL TV. "If we could get Usyk, of course because he’s got the belts, but I’m very big on Deontay fighting Joshua. I believe that it’s good, not just for boxing but for so many reasons. It’s a treat to society and to culture!”
“I believe Deontay fighting Anthony Joshua is the type of fight that can motivate these little kids in these inner cities that are trying to find their way. I think it’d be good, not just for boxing, but for mankind. It’d be a real tragedy if this fight doesn’t happen.”
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Scott also confirmed that talks for the tournament were real after it was initially reported by Simon Jordan on his talkSPORT show with Jim White. Eddie Hearn has said that the talks are at a very early stage, but opted not to go into as much detail as Scott in his own chat with IFL on the same day.
Deontay Wilder's coach Malik Scott is confident of a win against Joshua (AFP via Getty Images)Are you excited to see Deontay Wilder face Anthony Joshua? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
“I’m on the inside of the meetings," Scott continued. "Deontay has me sitting right next to him in these meetings. What I can say is that the things that people are hearing are not fibs, and that negotiations have begun, not with certain fighters but negotiations are intact.
"Those fights people are mentioning, those headlines and those big cards, those ultimate fights, that type of boxing is about to be back on the menu. The negotiations are true, everything is getting together, we’re going to see what happens and what fighters really want to fight that’s at that level.
"And the ones that do Deontay Wilder ’s going to knock out and become two time champion of the world. I can say that those rumours are true, negotiations are going on and big fights are going to be happening in Saudi Arabia.”