Matchroom promoter, Eddie Hearn, is optimistic of getting a deal done for Anthony Joshua to take on Deontay Wilder this December – and believes ‘The Bronze Bomber’ may have already put pen to paper for the fight.
All the recent attention in the heavyweight division has been about a possible four-man tournament to be hosted in the Saudi Arabia at the end of the year. The unprecedented night of boxing plans to stage Joshua vs Wilder and also Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed crown.
Fans will be forgiven for thinking it’s overly optimistic, but at least one of the fights is looking promising. Hearn and Joshua have made no secret of their desire to make the Wilder clash ever since ‘AJ’ returned to winning ways against Jermaine Franklin last month.
And speaking to ProBox TV, Hearn revealed that Wilder’s side of the deal may have already been signed.
“It’s Saudi dealing direct with Deontay Wilder, and with me, so not me trying to do a deal with Deontay Wilder and this and that. I don’t know where they’re up to with that but I would think they may have that deal done. They don’t have our deal done.”
Although Hearn is optimistic the bout takes place, he admitted that if an agreement couldn’t be reached then they would most likely look to make the Dillian Whyte fight.
“He’s been out there, Wilder, he was there for the Jake Paul fight. They’ve been talking all the time. He’s never had a massive payday like ‘AJ’ has. They know what AJ made to fight Andy Ruiz and to fight Usyk, in Saudi, so they know the levels that we need to talk about. If they want it to happen, I think it’ll happen.
We’re in negotiations to fight in Saudi in December. Everything around that will lead us to the decision about July – probably first week of August now – that fight. Will he fight? Where will he fight? Who against? If we don’t get the Wilder fight done, we’ll try and close the Dillian Whyte fight for the beginning of August.”
As one half of the night makes progress there has still been no further information on whether Fury and Usyk are any closer to agreeing terms for their side.