Anthony Joshua’s promoter gives update on Deontay Wilder fight talks and names alternate opponent Brit could face NEXT
EDDIE HEARN revealed talks for Anthony Joshua to fight Deontay Wilder are progressing – but it might not come next.
Both camps have been in negotiations for a blockbuster bout in Saudi Arabia in December.
And boxing bosses in the Middle East want to host Tyson Fury, 34, against Oleksandr Usyk, 36, on the SAME NIGHT.
But whether or not the heavyweight bonanza can be achieved or not, Hearn insisted Joshua, 33, is still on course to face Wilder, 37.
He told Stamina for Sale: “The situation is, Saudi Arabia would like to do Fury against Usyk, AJ against Wilder on the same night.
“I went out there two weeks ago, they’re deadly serious, I’ve done two big fights with them before, I know they deliver.
“As I understand it, they’ve been doing their own negotiations with Deontay Wilder, which has gone very well.
“They’ve been talking to Usyk for a year, because he boxed AJ over there and they know the rough kind of numbers that we want based on what we received for the Andy Ruiz fight and Usyk fight in Saudi Arabia.
“Fury is another story altogether, but not my business. But all I’m concerned about is doing the deal for AJ against Wilder, because if they can’t get Usyk and Fury over the line they will still do AJ against Wilder.
“This is what they want. They want this big quartet. AJ’s already told me ‘no problem’.
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“You hit the numbers that we want for the fight, that aren’t unreasonable and not hugely out of proportion in terms of what he received there last time, we’re in.”
Joshua returned with victory over Jermaine Franklin, 29, in April, following consecutive losses to Usyk.
And Hearn hoped it would be the first of a hat-trick of 2023 fights to keep AJ busy and gelling with new coach Derrick James.
But talks with Wilder leave an interim bout in the summer on hold, despite a rematch with Dillian Whyte, 34, remaining possible.
Hearn said: “We work backwards on that, regarding the August fight that he will be having – because we all believe he needs that fight in August – more time with Derrick James, more preparation for Deontay Wilder and then that’s it.
“Who we choose will be dependent on if we get that Deontay Wilder deal done.
“I like the Dillian Whyte fight. Whether he gets the Wilder fight done or not, I like that fight.
“It’s a fight that AJ’s going to get up for, I think it’s a fight that he can have some spite for and he’s a fighter that’s dangerous.
“They’ll be a lot on the line because if you sign a massive deal to fight Deontay Wilder in December and you’re fighting Dillian Whyte in August, it’s risky business.
“But I don’t feel that a fight against someone that he’s not fired up for or he’s not motivated for or someone who’s going to roll over, it’s not really going to prepare him for that Wilder fight.
“That’s where we are at, but we’re working backwards to try and get the Wilder fight over the line first.”