ANTHONY JOSHUA says a super-fight with Deontay Wilder is long overdue – and remains adamant it WILL happen.
TV network and promotional alliances has frustratingly seen the heavyweight blockbuster remain on the shelf.
Anthony Joshua ahead of his April 1 boxing returnRichard Pelham / The Sun
AFPDeontay Wilder wants to fight Anthony Joshua[/caption]
But ahead of Joshua’s return fight on April 1, he is confident the dream bout will not turn to dust.
He told iFL TV: “It will happen and I think it’s been long overdue. It’s a conversation that’s been happening for a long, long time.
“So for me to sit here and say, ‘It’s going to happen, it’s going to happen’, it will feel like I’m just waffling again.
“And when it does it does. And it will. That’s just me, certifying it. I don’t need to sit here and talk about it and go on and on and on.
“I’ve been in that realm before where we spoke about it and it didn’t materialise. So, when it materialises it will happen and I’m confident in it.”
Joshua, 33, is coming off consecutive losses to pound-for-pound star Oleksandr Usyk, 36, most recently in Saudi Arabia in August.
And he returns at the O2 Arena – for the first time in seven years – against American Jermaine Franklin.
Franklin, 29, was beaten in a disputed decision by Dillian Whyte, 34, in November, which AJ was ringside for.
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Meanwhile Wilder, 37, knocked out Robert Helenius, 38, in the opening round of his October comeback bout.
His manager Shelly Finkel told SunSport talks were held with Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn soon after.
But he claimed ultimately, Hearn indicated AJ would opt for a tune-up bout having changed trainers to Derrick James in Texas.
Finkel proposed a deal be agreed in principle for Joshua and Wilder to fight at the end of the year, baring they avoid defeat.
Finkel told us: “We could make it for the summer, as long as neither fighter loses or is injured, the fight can happen. Period.
“But somehow – and you can mark it down – Anthony Joshua will try wiggle into a fight in the summer with Dillian Whyte.
“I’d even go as far to say, lock in now November or December for Deontay and Joshua.”
Anthony Joshua with promoter Eddie Hearn and Jermaine FranklinRichard Pelham / The Sun