Malik Scott, trainer for WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, says a showdown with Anthony Joshua will happen one way or another in 2024.

The bout is targeted for a date in January, in the Middle East.

Joshua is scheduled to see action this coming Saturday night at The O2 in London, when he faces Robert Helenius in the main event.

Scott is also in London, as the trainer of Gerald Washington for his undercard fight with Derek Chisora.

Even if Joshua loses or struggles to win, Scott wants to see him in the ring with Wilder.

"I think they both should be in the ring with each other regardless," Scott told Sky Sports News. "Performance-wise, win or lose, to me Deontay Wilder and AJ should be in a boxing ring together. It should happen.

"It would be a true tragedy if we get the Riddick Bowe-Lennox Lewis [who never fought] effect with Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua. Them two deserve to be in a ring with each other."

Scott is hoping that Wilder will have an interim fight in October. He's been out of the ring since knocking Helenius in one round in October in 2022.

"The January thing is locked in, as locked in as it's going to be," Scott said.

"In the boxing world nothing to me is done until it's actually over. That's my personal opinion. But the high [level] talk, the deal is almost done."

According to Scott, just because his boxer knocked out the 39-year-old Helenius, it doesn't mean Joshua will not have problems in the fight.

"We iced him. I mean literally iced him, froze him," Scott said. "Helenius can fight, I love him. He has a great style, he's long, his chin is always behind his front knee besides the time he fought us and he paid. AJ may be facing a way better Helenius than we had, [if] he's not willing to make the same mistakes. We shall see."