Though Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder are fighting under the same card, fans and boxing enthusiasts around the world have some other expectations. Joshua is set for a significant bout in Saudi Arabia on December 23. Eager to reclaim his standing in the heavyweight division’s world title scene, the British boxer will step into the ring against Sweden’s Otto Wallin. The intrigue deepens as Joshua’s fight is slated after Wilder’s matchup with Joseph Parker on the undercard.
Fans have been waiting for a showdown between Joshua and Wilder for years now. Matt Macklin, the former European champion, though dissatisfied with the two, has made his predictions for the upcoming fight.
What expectation does Matt Macklin hold of Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder?
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The trajectories of Joshua and Wilder have been hurtling towards an inevitable collision ever since Joshua secured his inaugural world title by defeating Charles Martin in 2016. This fight is easily one of the most anticipated ones in the present boxing scenario. So, naturally, when the two heavyweights decided to face separate opponents for the December bout, fans were disheartened. And so was Macklin.
❌ @mattmacklin says he can't see @anthonyjoshua or @BronzeBomber slipping up on December 23 if both men are on form.
Full interview: https://t.co/TYMyzgke4O pic.twitter.com/SPntumlUZM
— Boxing News+ (@BoxingNewsPlus) November 19, 2023
“Yeah, I mean look, It’s not the fight you want, again, really you wanted Wilder and AJ. So, it’s frustrating that you don’t get that fight,” he said while speaking to Boxing News+.
However, he believes both fights will be worth a watch as the opponents are worthy enough to put up a challenge. “But you’d expect both of them to win. That’s what you’d assume if they’re on form, you’d expect both guys to win,” he added. However, Macklin might just get to witness the fight he so desperately awaits.
A Joshua-Wilder fight in the making?
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Wilder radiates optimism as he envisions the long-awaited clash with Joshua finally materializing. A fruitful meeting with Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, was all it took. Despite previous attempts to organize a unification bout falling apart when both fighters held significant heavyweight titles, recent speculation suggests a renewed chance for the anticipated showdown in 2024.
The condition for this epic encounter hinges on both securing victories in their upcoming individual bouts. Wilder, taking to social media, revealed a shared flight with Hearn, signaling a positive shift in their relationship. The 38-year-old American expressed a genuine willingness to reconcile. He confirmed engaging in discussions with Hearn about the potential blockbuster fight, fueling excitement among boxing enthusiasts.
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All eyes are now on the December match. It will decide whether fans get to see the two heavyweight titans inside the ring or not. What are your predictions?
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