Eddie Hearn has revealed that the interest from the Middle East to stage a four-man tournament including Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk is real.
TalkSPORT‘s Simon Jordan recently revealed that he had it on good authority Saudi Arabia was planning to make a big move in the heavyweight division.
The revelation came as a potential answer to Anthony Joshua’s recent statement that he wouldn’t be returning to the ring until December despite a previous with to get more work in under new trainer, Derrick James.
Hearn, who has promoted ‘AJ’ since he turned pro, confirmed to IFL TV that they’re aiming for a big fight in December and that there is interest to host the two mammoth scraps on the same night.
“For AJ, one thing’s for sure his big fight, and it will come in the Middle East, will be in December and that will be Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder.
That’s what we’re planning. I will be going out next week to meet people to discuss AJ’s fight in December.
There is definitely conversations that have taken place, just of plans, where people would like to host Fury against Usyk and AJ against Wilder on the same night.
It’s going to cost a lot of money, but would be epic and we will have those conversations.”
Fury versus Usyk would crown the first four-belt heavyweight champion in the sport’s history, and negotiations recently collapsed amidst financial disagreements.
Such is the magnitude of the fight – and Joshua facing Wilder for that matter – it’s hard to believe it not just being on top of a standard undercard.
That said, the Middle East have made their intentions clear in the sporting world, and if any territory has the money to pay for it…