Barry Hearn Claims Wilder-Joshua Talks Are Dragging

It has been a big week for Anthony Joshua, with rumors of a nine figure contract extension and his being anointed as the highest earner in boxing, but his heavyweight unification war with Deontay Wilder may be in trouble.

Barry Hearn, founder of Matchroom Boxing claims that the negotiations have dragged on for too long and he wants action.

“Joshua really is up for being the unified champion of the world, but inevitably the devil is in the detail,” Barry Hearn told Sky Sports. “There are questions that we are in the process of answering. We’ve asked some and to be fair to the other side, they’ve come back with answers. We are still talking and we’re about to answer some more detailed questions, and who knows? I never in boxing believe any deal is done until the contract is actually signed.

“We are making progress, Joshua is – as always – an integral part of the decision making process, because he’s the one that does the fighting, but it’s a fight he likes and it’s a fight we like. We’re still a long way to go in terms of detail, but that long way has to be accelerated to get an answer in the next few days or a week’s time, simply because we are going to be put under pressure by the WBA: ‘Are you fighting Povetkin for the mandatory?’

Hearn has cautioned that there are potential items coming up that may become a dealbreaker for he and his son Eddie, who represent Joshua.

“We need to have a certain amount of control,” said Hearn.

“We need assurances on certain things, and we need contracts in place, and we need the money up front, guaranteed. But there are lots of small details, which at the last minute, each one of them could be a deal breaker. We’re not going to tell you we’re close, I’m saying we’re on the way, but the clock is ticking and we have to move.”

Original Story: Sky Sports