Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearns says Deontey Wilder is the only boxer his client wants to fight but another they may be forced to consider other options if an agreement is not reached on time.
WBC champion Wilder decided to fight Tyson Fury weeks after talks after talks broke down with Joshua’s camp. WBC’s to sanction a rematch for Wilder and Fury has thrown a potential unification bout between Joshua and Wilder in to doubt.
When asked how much Joshua wants the fight with Wilder, Hearns said it’s the fight Joshua has waited for all his life.
“AJ wants it badly, this is the reason he started in the sport. He’s got every belt except one.”
“[Wilder] is the only fight that we want. If we can’t get that fight, we’ll look at others. Does that mean moving to the States? Not necessarily.”
Pressed about ongoing talks to pit Joshua against Wilder, Hearn said talks has been slow but won’t revealed the details.
“Bits and pieces. I have been speaking to [Wilder’s representative] Shelly Finkel and it will remain private.
“I am ready to make a deal but I can’t say that it’s close, because it isn’t.
“It all depends on if Wilder wants to be the undisputed champion. If he does, then we’ll get the fight made. If he’s not bothered, then he’ll swerve it.
“It is the only fight that we want. If we can’t get that fight, we’ll look at others.
“Does that mean moving to the States? Not necessarily.”
The matchroom boss confirmed that Joshua at some point Joshua will fight in the U.S , but refused to rule a rematch between Joshua and Dillian Whyte who must first pass through Dereck Chisora this weekend .
“The American debut is imminent,” said Hearn. “I’d like the American debut to be against Wilder but, if not, fighting in New York against a New Yorker with a big mouth would make a lot of sense.”
“If AJ can’t fight Wilder or Tyson Fury, we look to the winner of [Whyte vs Chisora] and say: ‘that’s probably where our opponent will come from’,” Hearn said.
“Wilder, Fury, the winner of [Whyte-Chisora], Oleksandr Usyk, Luis Ortiz. These are all guys that AJ has to go through in the next three years.”
But the focus remains on Wilder, who could opt to meet Fury again, Hearn reiterated.
“Another reason why the undisputed title fight must happen now is because, sooner or later, we’ll have different mandatory challengers.
“And they might be fights that no one has an interest in. Wladimir Klitschko did that for years except he took the fights that no one had an interest in.
Keep defending, keep defending – but you build a poor resume and AJ isn’t interested in that. He wants the big fights.”
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