Heavyweight rivals Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder have reportedly agreed a two-fight deal to face each other.
Joshua and Wilder are set to be involved in separate bouts this weekend in Saudi Arabia, with the Brit taking on Otto Wallin, while the “Bronze Bomber” will face Joseph Parker.
But they already appear to have one eye on the future, and have now agreed to a multi-fight deal, according to boxing correspondent Dan Rafael.
The former world champions are expected to sign the contract before they step in the ring on Saturday night.
Reports last week claimed that Joshua is set to fight Wilder on March 9, if they both come through their fights in Saudi Arabia unscathed.
That would give the pair just 11 weeks to prepare to fight each other, a quick turnaround given that Wilder has fought just once in the last two years.
They now look likely to face each other again later in 2024.
A showdown between Joshua and Wilder has been mooted for a number of years.
Wilder held the WBC title between 2015 and 2020, and Joshua was unified champion twice between 2016 and 2021.
But talks between the fighters’ teams have broken down on multiple occasions, and they have lost their belts in the meantime, with Wilder losing to Tyson Fury twice, and Joshua being beaten by Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022.
There may be no titles on the line if they finally settle their differences in 2024, but it remains a mega fight between two of the best heavyweights on the planet.
The winner of the two bouts would put themselves right back in the title picture and in line to fight either Fury or Usyk, who are due to meet on February 17 in an undisputed clash.
