Turki Alalshikh has written on social media to announce that former champion Deontay Wilder will fight the leading unbeaten heavyweight prospect/contender Jared Anderson, on the massive August 3 card in L.A that will be topped by Terence Crawford against Israil Madrimov.
An Amazing announcement, considering:
1. How poorly Wilder performed against Joseph Parker the last time out, obviously affected by his age (38), a long career as one of the dominant titleists of this century, and a two year layoff, save for his quick blowout of Viking champion Robert Helenius.
2. What a giant leap up in opposition this represents for Anderson.
3. The massive undertaking such a fight represents for anybody, occurring just a little over two months after the scheduled Wilder-Zhang fight, where the Saudi Arabian minister of sport is making a huge presumption regarding Wilder and his ability to beat the highly decorated amateur Zhilei Zhang, who is not only the most dangerous martial artist in Chinese history by a country mile, but a professional who can reasonably claim to have recently defeated powerful UK hope Joe Joyce (twice), lauded contender Filip Hrgovic and the slippery veteran Parker.
We all know that the distance between an announcement such as this is often a far journey to the opening bell, but nobody can argue that the Saudis are offering opportunity for an aggressive schedule for the world's most valuable and elite combat sport athletes!
What happens if Zhang brutally ko's Wilder and gives him a concussion
He wery well may. Either of these guys can take the other out, and either could turn up "suddenly old". I thought that Zhang beat both Parker and Hrgovic as millions of others do, and the number he did on Parker slayer Joe Joyce, in two different ways, was outright prodigious.
Wilder is Wilder. People who don't know better criticize his skill level. But why carry a peashooter, a hammer and an axe when you're a human bazooka?
I still say that they are throwing big money and tough opponents at him to relieve the made-to order Joshua of his responsibility to fight him.
Well, just think. Parker then Zhang after sitting in dry dock for 2 years? Joshua is 4 fights into his own comeback, talking as if it's the return of the Christ child; and Nobody's thinking that HE's ready for a Parker or Zhang level challenge.
He wears the cultural clothing and which is suited to that climate.
What do you want him to wear, skinny jeans like they do in America? Try wearing those in 40° heat
They don't have humor where you're from ? Or is it just you ?
Turki is the man , even though he wears a dress. It's a man dress dammit ! Well done Mr.Turki. Boxing fans owe this guy a debt of gratitude. He's the best thing to happen to boxing in a long time , maybe ever.
He wears the cultural clothing and which is suited to that climate.
What do you want him to wear, skinny jeans like they do in America? Try wearing those in 40° heat
Not sure I understand you here.
Wilder vs. Zhang matches the Ring's no. 9 against no. 4 in the 1st USA vs. China shootout in a sport that matters.
Wilder vs. Anderson matches the Ring's no. 7 against no. 9 in a passing of the torch fight for the nation owning 38 - 39% of all the money in the world.
This pair of fights strikes me as being as big a "move forward" as it gets.
https://www.ringtv.com/ratings/?weightclass=272
https://www.************.com/2024/04...in-the-making/
You are a good poster, so I don't intend to disrespect you with my disagreement and I accept yours.
The Ring's top 10 is bad.
None of those two countries own that much money but even if so, it is very different from the fact that this is boxing, not even some team competition in a world or Olympic format. As you can see, the people who make it happen are not the Chinese nor the Americans, but the Saudis.
Wilder facing Zhang is a good move and if he wins, I don't think Anderson is a bigger step forward to what he missed in his career. He better push for AJ, Joyce, Dubois, Hrgovic, Whyte... Anderson has yet to prove his true level (I don't blame him for - he has limited amateur experience and barely started his professional career). Not that this is a bad fight if it happens, plus I would watch it.
It is not a big move forward (even though Anderson is believed to be a prospect and is kind of top 20) especially if Wilder wins against Zhang but it's some good activity. There is just one "big if" Wilder loses against Znag and if he loses via KO.
Not sure I understand you here.
Wilder vs. Zhang matches the Ring's no. 9 against no. 4 in the 1st USA vs. China shootout in a sport that matters.
Wilder vs. Anderson matches the Ring's no. 7 against no. 9 in a passing of the torch fight for the nation owning 38 - 39% of all the money in the world.
This pair of fights strikes me as being as big a "move forward" as it gets.
https://www.ringtv.com/ratings/?weightclass=272
https://www.boxingnews24.com/2024/04...in-the-making/
Turki is the man , even though he wears a dress. It's a man dress dammit ! Well done Mr.Turki. Boxing fans owe this guy a debt of gratitude. He's the best thing to happen to boxing in a long time , maybe ever.
It is not a big move forward (even though Anderson is believed to be a prospect and is kind of top 20) especially if Wilder wins against Zhang but it's some good activity. There is just one "big if" Wilder loses against Znag and if he loses via KO.
Turki tweeted the following (alongside a picture of him and Anderson)
"The talented Jared Anderson is with us now on August 3rd Riyadh Season card at LA against the "Bronze Bomber" Deontay Wilder - if he's ready by then to fight after 1st of June's fight against Zhilei Zhang. I always believe that boxing would be at its peak when you have young American heavyweights like Jared Anderson which I also believe in his talent and his promising future. my advice to him " Focus on your future, training, and commitment and you will reach to your goals." Happy to collaborate with Top Rank again - Riyadh Season card 3rd of August in LA, will be one for the history!"
This card is bananas even more now.
I've been searching and haven't seen anything about this. Where's the link?
Turki tweeted the following (alongside a picture of him and Anderson)
"The talented Jared Anderson is with us now on August 3rd Riyadh Season card at LA against the "Bronze Bomber" Deontay Wilder - if he's ready by then to fight after 1st of June's fight against Zhilei Zhang. I always believe that boxing would be at its peak when you have young American heavyweights like Jared Anderson which I also believe in his talent and his promising future. my advice to him " Focus on your future, training, and commitment and you will reach to your goals." Happy to collaborate with Top Rank again - Riyadh Season card 3rd of August in LA, will be one for the history!"
Crazy how many opportunities he's getting after looking horrendous vs Parker. If I had to guess, it's part of the master plan to get Wilder back in contention to face AJ. I suspect Wilder should have better success against Zhang whose nearing 42 years old I think. Jared isn't an easy fight by any means, but perhaps they're banking on his inexperience that Wilder can take advantage of. I don't know, just crazy to me how he lost to Parker and the offers are coming in.
He remains 2nd only to Fury as the best post Klitschko era heavyweight in a stacked era; given Joshua's embarrassing losses and Usyk's limited heavyweight resume.
Wilder has the highest KO rate of any heavyweight title holder dating back to 1719, made as many successful defenses as Joshua, Ruiz and Usyk put together, all fishing from the same pool of talent, and very little can be lifted from the non-action Parker fight other than Wilder being off two years and being put in with a spoiler (Presumably to steer him away from KOable cash cow Joshua, as is, obviously the ultra-tough Zhang pairing).
Whatever opportunities Wilder is receiving, he's certainly earned them; the idea that his opposition was soft being a myth.
In addition; he's from the United States; the benevolent but unchallenged ruler of the world.
Seems like a step backwards from Zhang, imo, are y'all sure the Saudis are betting on him to win?
If the Saudis wasn't pairing him with Anderson I'd've said this is Wilder's last go at the world level unless he wins anyway ... they already pairing him like a regional talent ... they betting Wilder's done and are paying him to build others.
I said that like I know. I don't know ****, I mean that was my take reading the headline then the thread's details were way not what I was expecting.
Willow you got a source for the Saudis assuming Wilder beats Zhang? Not saying you're wrong I'm just really surprised that's what this schedule is meant to say. This schedule says a lack of faith in Wilder to me, so if their intention was to show faith I got it as wrong as I could have.
Source: Deontay Wilder Vs. Jared Anderson On August 3!? - Latest Boxing News (https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-news/deontay-wilder-vs-jared-anderson-on-august-3/277492)
Here is the news source.
I couldn't hazzard a guess what the Saudis are assuming, but they do seem more inclined to take risks more that the fighters and their management does.
If I were guiding Wilder through his late 30's stage I would not have taken on a spoiler type like Parker; who is below a Fury x3 or an Otiz x2 in ability, but is gifted enough to be a spoiler for an older fighter inactive for years.
The Wilder vs Joshua miss would be the missing tooth match for this generation as Frazier - Norton, Ali - Bobick, Cooney - Weaver, Lewis - Bowe or Wladimir - Vitali became for previous generations.
But I certainly understand the U.S. passing of the torch aspect of the Wilder vs. Anderson pairing. I'm just not convinced that Anderson is reaady, unless the Wilder of 5 years ago is already gone forever.
That Wilder always found his mark, making better ring generalship wholly irrelevant almost every time. He's no Charles Martin.
So no love for Joshua -Wilder from Saudis.
These heavyweights are like puppets now, they have no word to say lol.
I think Wilder will lose to Zhang but beat Anderson.