WBC president, Mauricio Sulaiman, has confirmed that Anthony Joshua could face Deontay Wilder as a final eliminator to determine a mandatory contender for the heavyweight title, reports dailymail.co.uk.
Joshua and Wilder have made it clear they would like to fight each other after they compete in separate bouts against Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia on December 23.
Sulaiman has confirmed AJ and Wilder will fight each other as a final eliminator for the WBC belt if they both emerge victorious from their respective bouts in December.
However, they will have to wait a while to get their shot at the title as Fury – who currently holds the WBC belt – is set to face OleksandrUsyk – who currently holds the IBF, WBA and WBO belts – on February 17 in Saudi Arabia.
Sulaiman also suggested there may be a rematch between Fury and Usyk, which could hold before either Wilder or Joshua get their chance at the undisputed title.
“We’ve been waiting and pushing and mediating and encouraging everyone to try to make this (Joshua vs Wilder) happen,’ Sulaiman told Sky Sport.
“When Wilder was champion there were a couple of occasions where Wilder-Joshua came very close. The WBC left that window without interfering with anything that could get in the way. Then with Tyson Fury, he was ready to fight Joshua, then Usyk.
“The problem that could happen is a mandatory contender,” he continued. “We did order Wilder against (Andy) Ruiz, which was a tremendous fight, to find a mandatory contender.”
“That fight didn’t take place. So the WBC board of governors has approved Fury against Usyk in February and then the rematch so there will not be anything in the way, as far as the WBC, for both fights to take place.”
Sulaiman went on to speak about the December 23 card in detail, saying: “In itself, it is a natural WBC elimination tournament. You have Wilder, No 1, Joshua, you have Parker, you have Otto Wallin, all those are highly ranked in the WBC. After December 23 we’re going to see a different picture in the rankings.”
He added: “It looks like Wilder and Joshua are on a collision course. That could very well be a final elimination to determine a mandatory contender for the WBC title.”
December 23 has been labelled a “Day of Reckoning” in boxing and is arguably one of the biggest cards in history after a disappointing year for heavyweight boxing.
Joshua, who has won 26 of his 29 fights, says that the fight against Wallin will be the first step towards what he hopes will be a third heavyweight world title.
Meanwhile, Wilder will be looking to secure another win after knocking Robert Helenius out when he last stepped into the ring.
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