In the latest edition of the Riyadh Season series, Anthony Joshua is set to face former WWE Champion The Undertaker for the WWE Championship belt.
With the four major boxing world titles tied up between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, Joshua has set his eyes on the WWE heavyweight title instead – seeing it as a potential bargaining chip later down the line.
Providing he’s able to overcome Francis Ngannou first, a fearsome boxer with a 0% win record, Joshua will return to the desert to face the WWE Hall of Famer in a Hell in a Cell match – the first leg of a two-fight deal with the so-called Lord of Darkness.
On a card that’s being dubbed ‘Back From The Dead’, Joshua will continue his comeback trail with what many believe is a match made in heaven for AJ, combining his most recent opponent with his average opponent – a novelty act without a pulse.
Joshua is, of course, no stranger to beating up elderly men who are close to death, with the British star notching wins against the likes of Alexander Povetkin, Wladimir Klitschko, and Kubrat Pulev.
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Questioned about his choice to fight a wrestler off the back of taking on an ex-MMA fighter, Joshua explained his decision, telling Paddy Power News:
‘Look, I just want to fight the best – dead or alive,’ later adding, ‘I’ve gone through hell these past few years, and you can’t go through hell without meeting The Undertaker along the way.’
Asked why his team opted for a two-fight deal and whether that could get in the way of a future clash with the winner of Usyk-Fury, Joshua quipped, ‘Look, the oil money was so nice that I had to do it twice.’
Understandably, the announcement has drawn criticism online and throughout the boxing world. After hearing news of the fight, Jake Paul tweeted: ‘SMH. Another cash grab fight. When are you gonna fight a real opponent, Anthony?’
Jake Paul takes on the 58-year-old Mike Tyson later this year.
In light of the backlash, Eddie Hearn came to his fighter’s defence.
‘When Tyson Fury was out wrestling Braun Strowman, a fighter who, might I add, isn’t even close to The Undertaker’s level, what did you all say? When Tyson Fury was doing his Undertaker impression mid-fight, what did you say then? You praised the man.
‘But when Anthony wants to fight the actual Undertaker, a hall of fame fighter, suddenly, everyone wants to criticise him.’
Catch Anthony Joshua vs Undertaker live from Riyadh, May 4th 2024. PPV £149.99
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