‘Why not Joshua and Wilder?’: Alalshikh talks about fights he’s targeting for 2025
Turki Alalshikh says now that Tyson Fury has retired he would like to see Anthony Joshua fight Deontay Wilder.
Turki Alalshikh appeared on talkSPORT today to talk about the recent news of Tyson Fury’s retirement and what he’s looking to accomplish in the sport in the near future. Here are some excerpts of waht Alalshikh had to say on a few topics.
Alashikh on Tyson Fury’s retirement
“First of all this kind of decision, it must be from the fighters and what is he thinking, he still have something to give or not...I don’t like it as a fan of boxing because we want to see Tyson more and more in big fights but I can understand his situation and you don’t know, this kind of decision can be changed by time.
“This is what bother me in boxing the last 10 years. After the Mayweather generation all the fighters care about not losing in their career and this is not right...Even in the old time in boxing, Muhammad Ali losing more than five times, all the great fighters losing and winning, and this is what must be in the mind of each fighter.
“Of course I will support (Fury) and I will discuss with him (the potential for a return) but I will leave him now some time to be with his family and then we can discuss.”
On his intention to stage a rematch between Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney
“This is done. Yes.”
On what other fights he’s looking to make
“If you want something about the British market, I want to see Joshua and Wilder now. If Tyson is not available, why not Joshua and Wilder?
“We finished the deal with Bakole and the Nigerian fighter (Ajagba). We finish it, they must do it because it is mandatory for the IBF, then after that we are open to see Joshua against Bakole. Me, I want to see this fight, right. I want to see it, but you know where I want to see it — I want to see it in Africa.”
On how it’s been working in the boxing business
“It’s a very big headache but it is useful for us now, a lot of people knowing about Riyadh Season through the boxing, what we are doing in the boxing. And now in the middle to announce nearly what I say to you from the beginning, the ideas of the league.
“We will start with the U.S. and let’s see from there what is happening. Now at the same time we are discussing with Queensberry and Matchroom to have a different level of relationship. I cannot say any more but Frank (Warren) and people in Matchroom also can understand what I mean.”