Hearn Claims Joshua-Wilder Decision In The Next Few Days
Eddie Hearn continues to be confident about finalizing a deal for an Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder deal, but claims Wilder is still on the clock and needs to make a decision in the “next few days.”
Hearn, who acts as Joshua’s promoter, has been speaking with his father, Barry, who is negotiating with Wilder’s co-manager Shelly Finkel, in the hopes they can set up a date this fall at Wembley Stadium.
“I think the bluster is gone and we’re now at the stage where there’s real decisions to be made in the next few days,” the elder Hearn claimed to told Sky Sports. “I’m very happy to say I’ve done my bit.
“Eddie and his team take over, as always, and the last word comes from the man himself. Wherever we go, it has to have the approval of AJ, because he’s the main man.”
“We want to do the fight in the UK,” Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports. “I don’t think they are too keen to do the fight in the UK, but I think they are slowly realizing that without Anthony Joshua, the future is not too bright and rosy for Deontay Wilder.
“He wants the fight, we want the fight. Time is running out, because we need to let the WBA know and Alexander Povetkin know if we’re fighting them in September.
One issue is not only whether Wilder would be willing to fight in England, it also involves Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin.
The rematch between the two middleweights is also in the midst of a negotiating quagmire, where Golovkin is demanding a 50-50 split from Alvarez, which may put their rumored September fight off till 2019.
Hearn is looking at all the different elements at play, to ensure Joshua’s next fight is the biggest in the timeframe.
“It’s just a case of whether that fight happens in October, November, September, or we do it in February or March next year,” Hearn told Sky.
“The US TV networks are going to get a pay-per-view fight in the USA from the UK. Timings – that would have to be with the time difference.:
“It’s just a case of whether you get there, or whether we jump to fight our mandatory in Povetkin, and then Wilder next.”
Original Report: Sky Sports