When Showtime signed IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua earlier this year there was immediate speculation about when the young British sensation would take on Showtime's other heavyweight star, WBC champion Deontay Wilder.
According to Showtime Sports vice president Stephen Espinoza, a heavyweight unification bout between the two knockout kings is being targeted for late next year.
"Between Deontay's injury and the (Anthony Joshua) mandatory and the other things, I think we're looking at maybe fall, winter of 2017," Espinoza told Ring TV. "That's when I think realistically because with Deontay out until late spring and Joshua having the mandatory, I think to get them on track for a third or fourth quarter fight next year is certainly a possibility."
As for a location of the fight, Espinoza wants it to be hosted in Las Vegas.
"I think that's really where that fight deserves to be," he said. "Because it's been a while since there's been a heavyweight title fight of that magnitude in Vegas. And I think there's a lot of pent up demand for it."
Joshua-Wilder would be one of the most anticipated heavyweight title fights in the last decade as it would pit two undefeated fighters -- assuming both get past their next bouts unscathed -- with a combined 53 knockouts in 54 fights. The heavyweight division has not had a fight that's produced a lot of buzz in years as the Klitschko brothers' dominance and the lack of an interesting contender made fans lose interest in the division.
This is the kind of fight that could help bring the heavyweight division back to the forefront of the boxing conversation if they can make it happen and then deliver a dramatic show.
