Tony Bellew has claimed that talks for Anthony Joshua to face Deontay Wilder have stalled, with the Watford man instead looking to battle Tyson Fury next.
Joshua and Wilder appeared on course to finally meet in Saudi Arabia in January, although Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn told IFLTV on Monday that talks are ongoing and insisted that ‘AJ’ would take a fight in December if a long-awaited showdown with the American does not materialise.
Former cruiserweight world champion, Bellew says he has heard that Joshua’s team is now revisiting a potential fight with WBC heavyweight world champion, Fury in Africa instead of a clash with ‘The Bronze Bomber’.
The 40-year-old told bitcoincasions.com: “I am hearing rumours that [talks between AJ & Wilder’s camps] have stopped at the minute and [AJ’s camp] are looking more towards Fury vs AJ again instead of AJ and Wilder.
“The talk is of another fight going to Africa, which would be absolutely incredible.
“Rumble in the Jungle all over again in Zaire or something along those lines.”
Fury and Joshua have failed to seal a deal on more than one occasion, with ‘The Gypsy King’ opting to face former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou in a non-title bout on October 28 in Saudi Arabia.
‘AJ’ secured his second straight victory since back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk with a stunning one-punch knockout of Robert Helenius last month, his first stoppage win in almost three years.
Bellew believes the 33-year-old, two-time heavyweight champion needs to rediscover the aggressive streak which first led him to world title glory in 2016.
“Deontay Wilder has got mind numbing power but so has Anthony Joshua, when he throws it,” he added.
“If you force him [Joshua] to throw, which Helenius didn’t do, then it’s a different ball game. I think gunshy is a little bit unfair, tentative is how I’d describe AJ’s performance [against Helenius].
“In my view I would just like Josh to get back to what he does best, which is to get on his chest and just throw punches.
“What happens to fighters is when we lose or get stopped it makes us vulnerable and wary.
“Sometimes we overthink things and I think that’s the phase he’s going through.
“He knows that he’s vulnerable and wary.”
