BOXING: Anthony Joshua receives offer from Saudi Arabia to fight Deontay Wilder but no contract yet

 

Anthony Joshua has received an offer from Saudi Arabia to fight Deontay Wilder but there is no contract just yet.

The Gulf state continues to bankroll some of the biggest sporting events in the world as their football teams sign huge names and LIV Golf merges with the PGA Tour.

 

And boxing is also high on the agenda with the Saudi-backed boxing promotion Skill Challenge Entertainment being given the green light to entice some of the sport's huge stars.

Joshua is on that list and has plans to fight there in the near future against Wilder with December being billed as the ideal time.

AJ's promoter Eddie Hearn has now confirmed to IFL TV that an offer has indeed arrived, though no contract has been written as of yet.

While talking about his latest ding-dong with Frank Warren amid feisty negotiations over a bout against Tyson Fury, Hearn let slip that the Saudis have made an offer.

Speaking to IFL TV about Warren's latest outburst, the Matchroom chief said: "[Bob] Arum, Warren, even my old man, it is the same thing.

"Ban them from interviews, because they have lost the plot. They say crazy things.

"It looked so desperate because they are desperate. They have no offer from Saudi Arabia and they have no fight.

"We have an offer without a contract so we need to wait on that contract but let's not forget, Frank's never done a fight with Saudi Arabia. I've done two fights.

 

"By the way, I am totally up for talking about the Tyson Fury fight in September but we have our plan for August and December."

Joshua has fought twice in Saudi Arabia with mixed results, losing his rematch to Oleksandr Usyk but winning his rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr.

Fury has not fought in the Gulf state, though his brother Tommy has, beating YouTube star Jake Paul in February.

While Hearn did not talk names, AJ's plan is to fight Dillian Whyte in August before taking on Wilder in Saudi Arabia near Christmas.

Joshua and Whyte have fought before, in 2015 which helped put AJ on the map after headlining his first undercard.

The two boxers developed a feud that has simmered over the years with a rematch expected on August 12.

However, boxing fans are desperate to see Joshua fight Fury in what would be arguably the biggest British boxing bout in years.

Talks have taken place but it appears that any chance of seeing such a fight is remote at best while Hearn has blamed Warren for his incendiary comments in the media.