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Both parties are committed to an Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder fight this year, according to Eddie Hearn.
For many years now, the two heavyweights' careers have been concurrent. They rose to the top of the professional pile undefeated following their Olympic success—Gold for "AJ" and Bronze for Wilder.
2015 saw Wilder win the WBC heavyweight crown, and 'AJ' followed in 2016 with the IBF crown. Later, he would expand his collection by including the WBA and WBO.
The supporters, who were eager to see an undisputed champion in the division, began to group their names together at this point. Of course, this didn't happen, as they ultimately lost the belts to Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.
It might be too late for a four-belt showdown, but the rounds' outcome still holds interest, and fans are closer than ever to witnessing it.
“We’re being told that Wilder’s in. And, subject to finalising some of the terms, we’re in. So, in his mind, he’s fighting Deontay Wilder in December. Once that gets papered, we then work backwards to the end of July or first week of August.”
“I want him to fight. I think he wants to fight. I think Derrick James wants him to fight. So we’ve just to pick the right opponent, because what it is is really a preparation for the [Wilder] fight.”
Joshua had announced that he would be skipping a previously-promised summer scrap to move straight towards his winter war, but this seems to have been re-evaluated now. Dillian Whyte was the previous frontrunner, but Hearn is realistic in how they’ll match make.
“My priority right now is secure the Deontay Wilder fight, and every other decision will stem off that.”
The December bout will land in the Middle East, a territory willing to throw huge money to make it happen. The same goes for Usyk versus Fury.