Deposed WBC champion Deontay Wilder may not fight for a heavyweight title until 2022, according to Eddie Hearn.
Hearn, the long-time promoter of Wilder’s rival and unified champion Anthony Joshua, believes the ‘Bronze Bomber’ is now out of the title equation with the heavyweight crowns seemingly tied up through 2021.
Wilder’s conqueror Tyson Fury and Joshua have already agreed to engage in a two-fight series next year should both come through fights in December.
Joshua meets IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev on December 12 with Fury in action one week earlier in London, after his contracted trilogy fight with Wilder fell through. Yet promoter Hearn is mystified by Wilder’s recent disappearance.
“I don’t know any fighter that wouldn’t want the rematch [a third, revenge fight against Fury],” Hearn told Sky Sports. “But I want to hear him. He’s gone missing.
“[Fury’s US promoter] Bob Arum says the contract has expired? What sort of contract was this? We’re coming off a global pandemic and the force majeure [unforeseeable circumstances] would cover them. It’s all really weird.
“Wilder has missed the boat. He won’t get a shot at the world title until 2022 onwards because we are going to have two fights [with Fury] next year if we beat Pulev.
“Maybe [Wilder] is done. You wouldn’t hold it against him. But I don’t understand the situation.”