Tony Bellew has claimed talks for Anthony Joshua to fight Deontay Wilder have come to a halt with a showdown with Tyson Fury now back on the cards.
Talks to stage the long-awaited heavyweight clash between Joshua and Wilder have taken place throughout the year with hope it can finally be delivered in December or January 2024.
Negotiations have continued following the Briton’s knockout victory over Robert Helenius in August with Joshua describing them as ‘positive’ in an interview with Sky Sports last week.
But former cruiserweight champion Bellew believes there might be a twist in the tale, having heard there has been a breakthrough in talks to stage a battle of Britain between Joshua and Fury in Africa.
‘I am hearing rumours that [talks between AJ & Wilder’s camps] have stopped at the minute and [Joshua’s camp] are looking more towards Fury vs AJ again instead of AJ and Wilder,’ Bellew told BitCoinCasinos.
‘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 is currently in camp for his crossover spectacle against former UFC champion Francis Ngannou, a bout to be fought under exhibition rules in Saudi Arabia on 28 October.
Joshua meanwhile has already fought twice in 2023, beating Jermaine Franklin and Helenius having linked up with new trainer Derrick James at the start of the year.
While there has been talk of another fight against an opponent of similar calibre before the end of the year, the two-time heavyweight champion is eager to go straight into that showdown against ‘The Bronze Bomber’.
‘The timeframe doesn’t really give an opportunity for that,’ Joshua said.
‘In reality we’re trying to schedule a fight for December so unfortunately no. That’s the time scale we’re looking forward to really.
‘In reality I’m going to focus on the Wilder fight for now.’
MORE : Anthony Joshua gives his reaction to Robert Helenius’ failed drug test
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