Turki Alalshikh names Anthony Joshua fight he wants to make next if Tyson Fury is not available
Turki Alalshikh wants to see Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder next.
The Saudi boxing chief has vowed to deliver boxing's craziest year in 2025, and a fight between Joshua and Wilder would arguably live up to that expectation.
On Monday, Tyson Fury announced his intention to retire from boxing in a short social media statement that asserted his journey in the squared circle had 'been a blast'.
'The Gypsy King' suffered his second straight defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in December. but hadn't yet announced his future plans in the sport.
He had been heavily linked with a two-fight deal against Joshua this year, however, those plans have now been thrown out the window following Fury's recent revelation.
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The boxing chief admitted he plans to hold talks with Fury over his future in boxing with fans still desperate to see an all-British heavyweight encounter against AJ.
But if that is not an option - Alalshikh believes Wilder is the next best thing.
"If you want something about the British markets, I want to see Joshua and Wilder now," he said.
"If Tyson is not available why not Joshua and Wilder?"
Wilder has lost four of his last five fight, suffering two defeats to Fury in 2020 and 2021 before knocking out Finland's Robert Helenius.
But he failed to carry any momentum into his subsequent bouts, as he fell to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, which both took place in Saudi Arabia in what turned out to be two very shocking defeats.
However, a commercial blockbuster deal with Joshua will always be on the cards due to Wilder's history with Fury and his devastating knockout power.
Simon Jordan agreed with Alalshikh, but threw another name into the mix as another suitable opponent for AJ.
"I can understand why people would want to see it," Jordan said.
"I mean I'd like to see Joshua fight someone like [Martin] Bakole. I think there's real jeopardy in that fight.
"I'd like to see Joshua fighting someone that was at the front of their career."
Alalshikh interrupted: “We finished the deal with Bakole against the Nigerian fighters. [Efe] Ajagba or something like that.
"We finished that as they must do it because this is mandatory for the IBF.
"Then after that we are open to see Joshua also against Bakole.
"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."
Bakole has been in 'advanced negotiations' to face Efe Ajagba in an IBF final eliminator to decide the major sanctioning body's mandatory.
Dubois is the current IBF champion and is set to defend his belt against Parker on February 22.
Wilder, meanwhile, has reportedly signed his side of a deal to face journeyman boxer Curtis Harper in the spring, therefore it's likely a fight with Joshua would come towards the end of 2025.
"When I am in the gym, everyone is asking me [about this fight]. I ain't got many years ahead of me.
"I want to leave the game with a bang and make an impact. Everyone is asking me the same question.
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"It's up to me to deliver, that's why I'm saying it has to happen this year.
"I think we can make this fight happen."