Deontay Wilder: record, next fight and profile →
Frank Sanchez is tired of waiting. The undefeated heavyweight contender has fought twice this year, but beat big underdogs in fights designed to simply keep Sanchez active while he awaits a title shot. Sanchez is ranked third by the WBO, fourth by the WBC, fifth by the IBF and 15th by the WBA.
LOS ANGELES – Former heavyweight champions Andy Ruiz Jr. and Deontay Wilder have been going back and forth online and through the media in recent months trying to publicly negotiate a fight against each other.
Trainer Malik Scott doesn’t believe Anthony Joshua actually wants to fight Deontay Wilder. A fight between the former heavyweight titlists has made rumblings for the past year, but its fortunes recently took a hit after it became clear that the original financial backer—an entity in Saudi Arabia—could no longer deliver the appropriate funds for that match-up.
Eddie Hearn, promoter for heavyweight contender Anthony Joshua, indicates that his fighter could very well return on the same card as the proposed grudge match between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr.
The heavyweight division is missing something according to Malik Scott. Sure there’s still talent everywhere but something just seems off. Ever since Deontay Wilder lost his WBC title to Tyson Fury, Scott, Wilder’s new head trainer, can notice the difference. Gone are the days when the Alabama native would put butts in seats and reward them for their loyalty by sending his opponents to the hospital.
Former unified heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, is keeping busy whilst he waits to find out if a mega fight with Deontay Wilder will go ahead. Joshua and former WBC champion, Wilder, have been circling each other for close to a decade but just when it seemed like a must-see shootout was on the verge of being agreed, talks cooled.
It’s apparently back to square one for Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder. The long-discussed heavyweight bout between hard-punching former titlists is no longer likely to take place in Saudi Arabia, as originally envisioned, but that does not mean the fight is in complete jeopardy, according to Joshua’ promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom.
Zhilei Zhang punched his way into contention at the perfect time. The massive Chinese heavyweight is now a potential failsafe option for one-time amateur rival Anthony Joshua, who—for now—remains hopeful of a super fight with Deontay Wilder. The clash of former heavyweight titlists has been teased for months but remains limbo and at a point when Joshua and his team are eager to move forward with the Brit’s career.
Zhilei Zhang maintained his position as the WBO’s mandatory challenger for one of Oleksandr Usyk’s heavyweight titles by knocking out Joe Joyce in the fourth round of their immediate rematch Saturday night.
Eddie Hearn, promoter for former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, believes a potential British showdown with Joe Joyce is practically a dead issue for the future.