Tony Bellew has called on Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua to finally meet in 2023.
Wilder and Joshua have long been on a collision course dating back to 2018 when talks broke down for a mega, undisputed heavyweight title fight when the pair were both world champions.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn recently revealed that he held conversations with Wilder’s manager, Shelly Finkel and former cruiserweight world champion, Bellew believes the fight should happen next year and expects it to be an epic.
“This has been on my list for the last few years now,” the 40-year-old told DAZN.
“But I just don’t see how Anthony Joshua against Deontay Wilder is anything but a heavyweight classic.
“Both can punch, both have weaknesses, and both are desperate to prove a point and get back on top.
“Trust me, this will be a fight for the ages, and I’d love to see it finally get over the line.”
Joshua has not fought since losing to unified WBA ‘super’, IBF and WBO titlist, Oleksandr Usyk for a second time in Saudi Arabia in August and is currently in the USA finalising his training team ahead of his return in the new year, with a rematch with Dillian Whyte mooted.
Wilder, who bounced back from successive defeats to WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury by knocking out Robert Helenius in the first round in Brooklyn in October, has been ordered to face compatriot Andy Ruiz Jr in a final eliminator for his former title.
However, Finkel insists that ‘The Bronze Bomber’ would be willing to finally lock horns with ‘AJ’ next.
“Deontay is willing to fight Anthony Joshua next,” Finkel told World Boxing News.
“We would take that fight in the UK or the Middle East, and we will do it next.
“We have the WBC eliminator with Ruiz, and we will do that, but we want the Joshua fight.”
