Joshua-Wilder Talks May Start Soon

The father of Eddie Hearn and founder of Matchroom Sports, Barry, believes that Deontay Wilder may not have to wait long for his crack at Anthony Joshua.

Following his son’s protege, adding the WBO title to his collection, Hearn told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek program that talks will happen soon.

“It is a fight Anthony Joshua really wants and I think he wants it this year,” the Matchroom chairman said last week.

“Anthony Joshua wants all the belts – that is the big card Deontay Wilder has got to play [but] commercially, Joshua is far bigger than Deontay Wilder.

“I think Wilder would come over here [the UK] because in the world we live in, in boxing, the couple of million dollars Wilder is getting for a fight is pretty small fry in comparison to the rewards that await him for a Joshua fight.

“I think negotiations will start next week.”

Barry’s son, Eddie, went after Wilder’s team following Joshua’s win at Principality Stadium, claiming, that “they don’t want it. They’ve never approached us,” he said.

“Deontay Wilder’s people don’t contact us and they don’t want to know. If they don’t walk the walk, they can’t talk the talk.”