Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder Saudi super-fight could be ‘signed off’ within the next two weeks, Eddie Hearn says
EDDIE HEARN said Anthony Joshua’s super-fight in Saudi Arabia against Deontay Wilder could be signed off within two weeks.
The pair of heavyweight stars have been in talks for a December blockbuster in the Middle East.
PA:Press AssociationAnthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn in Saudi Arabia in 2019[/caption]
GettyDeontay Wilder is in talks to fight Anthony Joshua in Saudi[/caption]
Joshua, 33, has twice boxed in Saudi before, beating Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019 but losing to Oleksandr Usyk last August.
So promoter Eddie Hearn has no doubt Prince Khalid’s Skill Challenge Entertainment will deliver on the mega-money fight.
He told the DAZN Boxing show: “When Prince Khalid and those guys tell me it’s done, it’s happening, I believe them.
“I didn’t believe them at first for the Andy Ruiz fight but I quickly realised that these guys are real.
“We hope to get, contractually, everything signed off in the next one-to-two weeks.”
Wilder, 37, has not returned since knocking out Robert Helenius, 39, in round one of his October comeback bout.
But Joshua did bounce back with victory over Jermaine Franklin, 29, in April which followed after consecutive losses to Usyk, 36.
It was his first under coach Derrick James and Hearn wants AJ to have one more fight with the American before facing Wilder.
ROYAL ASCOT BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET RACING DEALS
ROYAL ASCOT LIVE – ALL THE LATEST ON EVERY RACE
Talks were progressing with Dillian Whyte, 35, for a rematch of the grudge match Joshua won in 2015.
But Hearn admitted the fight faces the KO over a financial demands.
He said: “I don’t think it will be Dillian Whyte.
“I just think talking about money and trying to find some middle ground, it’s difficult.
“Obviously [Whyte] has his perceived value in that fight, we have the number that we think is right, obviously AJ wants to get paid. It’s very difficult.
“I just don’t think financially – being completely honest – we can reach a deal with Dillian Whyte for that fight.”
Anthony Joshua beat Dillian Whyte in 2015Reuters
