Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder ‘are finalising deals to fight separate bouts on the same night in Saudi Arabia in December’ – with showdown between former heavyweight world champions eyed for next year

• Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder slated to fight on same night next month
• Pair will reportedly fight separate opponents on December 23 in Saudi Arabia
• How do you get the biggest fight for an ailing AJ without huge risk? The Hook

Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder are reportedly both set to return to action on the same event in Saudi Arabia on December 23rd.

A clash between the two former world heavyweight champions has long been rumoured, with Eddie Hearn claiming in May that the fight would likely take place this year.

However, according to a report from boxing journalist Dan Rafael, after financing for the eagerly anticipated showdown could not be confirmed, the pair are now set to feature in separate bouts on the same night.

Both Wilder and Joshua are coming off knockout wins against Robert Helenius in their most recent outings.

After back-to-back losses to Tyson Fury, Wilder stopped the Finnish heavyweight in the first round in October of last year.

Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder are reportedly set to return on the same card later this year

The two former heavyweight champions are set to face seperate opponents in Saudi Arabia next month

Helenius stepped in as a short-notice replacement to face Joshua in August, with AJ scoring a seventh-round stoppage after a tentative opening at the O2 Arena.

The event scheduled for December 23rd had initially been slated to be headlined by a clash between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk to determine the division’s first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.

Fury had even gone as far as claiming he would sue the Ukrainian if he attempted to postpone the clash, noting that a contract had been signed by both parties for the event to take place on that date.

However, plans had to change after the WBC champion took on former UFC king Francis Ngannou across 10-rounds in Riyadh last month.

Ngannou exceeded expectations in the ring, producing a poised performance that saw him become just the fourth fighter to score a knockdown on the Gypsy King, felling Fury with a left hook in the third round.

Despite his valiant effort, Fury would ultimately emerge victorious via split decision, with stats later showing that he had out-landed the former MMA fighter over the course of the bout.

Though he left with his undefeated record intact, the extent of the fight has forced the undisputed clash to be delayed, with Usyk recently stating that he hopes the bout will take place in February.

December 23 event was initially set to be headlined by an undisputed clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk

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