The long-awaited grudge match between the pair could finally be dead in the water

A FRESH spanner has been thrown into the works of a grudge match between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder.

The pair’s long-overdue showdown was on the brink of coming to fruition last December before Wilder suffered a shock loss to Joseph Parker.

Anthony Joshua recently re-opened the door to a grudge match with Deontay WilderCredit: REUTERS

AJ says he could face the American next if he wins his showdown with Zhilei ZhangCredit: GETTY

But Saudi boxing kingpin Turki Alalshikh plans to have Wilder fight Jared Anderson after his clash with ZhangCredit: X@TURKI_ALASHIKH

AJ, however, refused to close the door on a dust-up with the American and revealed earlier this month that he could potentially fight him at Wembley.

But Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh seemingly has different plans for Wilder, who returns to the ring on June 1 for a do-or-die showdown with Zhilei Zhang.

Alalshikh plans to have Wilder take part in a domestic dust-up against the undefeated Jared Anderson should he come through his Riyad rumble with Zhang.

Alongside a picture of himself and Anderson, Alalshikh tweeted: “The talented Jared Anderson is with us now on [the] August 3rd Riyadh Season card at LA, against the ‘Bronze Bomber’ Deontay Wilder.

“If he’s ready by then to fight after 1st of June’s fight against Zhilei Zhang.”

Joshua, 34, hasn’t set foot inside the ring since his brutal two-round demolition of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in March.

But he recently claimed he’s on course to fight either Wilder, Zhang, Filip Hrgovic or Daniel Dubois this September.

He told talkSPORT late last month: “Whenever they tell me there’s a date, you know I’ll be ready 100 per cent.

“It’s gonna be in London, Wembley Stadium.

“This is what I’m being told. If that’s what they say, they normally back their word so let’s go with that.

“Wembley, September 20 or 21.”

The Watford warrior added: “On June 1 in Saudi Arabia they’ve got the 5 vs 5 card.

“You’ve got Filip Hrgovic vs Daniel Dubois, and you’ve got Zhilei Zhang vs Deontay Wilder.

“So providing one of those looks good – the one who looks the best, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh said to me, ‘I want you to fight [him].’

“What he says is, ‘In the future I want people to look back at your record and say that you took on the best.’

“I said, ‘Now you’re speaking my language.’

“So out of that pool, I believe that’s who I’m gonna be fighting, one of those.

“We’re on the same page and he’s on the same page as the fans as well.

“But Fury’s got his obligations with Oleksandr Usyk so I’ve gotta make sure I stay focused and disciplined.

“Keep steamrolling through opponents so I can get closer and closer to having the opportunity of me versus Tyson Fury.”

Anthony Joshua plans to be back in the ring this SeptemberCredit: Getty