Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sports Wants to Make the Cut Happen
Turki Alalshikh has grand plans for Aug. 3 in Saudi Arabia.
The Minister of Sports for the country hopes to get Jared Anderson, the heavy-handed prospect from Toledo, Ohio, on the card that is expected to feature Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua II.
We are working on bringing Jared Anderson to the card of Usyk-Joshua in Jeddah,” Alalshikh told FightHype.com. “I think he’s going to have a great fight there. Hopefully, he’s going to fight Deontay Wilder.”
Anderson (12-0, 12 KOs) has been calling for a step-up fight for more than a year
A fight with Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs) would certainly fit the bill.
The 23-year-old has looked impressive in his short professional career, and he is widely regarded as one of the top young heavyweights in the world.
Wilder, meanwhile, is a former WBC heavyweight champion who is still considered one of the most dangerous fighters in the division.
He lost his title to Fury in February 2020, and he has not fought since. But he has been vocal about his desire to return to the ring, and a fight with Anderson would be a good way for him to do that.
Alalshikh is confident that he can make the fight happen
He has a history of putting together big fights in Saudi Arabia, and he is confident that he can do it again.
“I think it’s a great fight for both guys,” Alalshikh said. “It’s a fight that the fans would love to see. And I think we can make it happen.”
Whether or not the fight actually happens remains to be seen. But Alalshikh’s comments are sure to get people talking.
Here are some of the other fights that Alalshikh is hoping to put on the Aug. 3 card:
- Filip Hrgovic vs. Zhang Zhilei (IBF heavyweight title eliminator)
- Arslanbek Makhmudov vs. Carlos Takam (WBC heavyweight title eliminator)
- Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Liam Smith (WBO light heavyweight title)
- Dillian Whyte vs. Jermaine Franklin (WBC heavyweight title eliminator)
Alalshikh is also hoping to bring a women’s fight to the card, but he has not yet announced any specific plans.