Eddie Hearn: Joshua Vs. Wallin Has A Rematch Clause
Anthony Joshua’s fight with Otto Wallin does contain a rematch clause.
That is according to Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn. The two fighters will headline on a huge Saudi card on December 23rd, 2023, with a lot on the line. A win for Joshua would boost the chances of securing a fight with Deontay Wilder, as Hearn has teased a fight for next spring. Meanwhile, Wallin’s only loss has come at the hands of Tyson Fury.
The Swede pushed the Gypsy King to the limit with his performance, as the fight could have been stopped on any other given day due to a cut above Fury’s eye that continued to bleed. And yet, the existence of a rematch clause does not make for good reading, given Joshua’s recent form.
Despite wins over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius, the boxer has not hit the same heights which had once made him a unified heavyweight champion. Though a rematch clause is a standard protocol for big-name fighters, it will not go down well if Joshua were to lose. However, Hearn did confirm that such a clause does exist.
Hearn On Joshua
“It’s a one-fight deal, but there are ongoing discussions. You see a lot of people saying, ‘Why isn’t AJ fighting [Deontay] Wilder on December 23rd?’ We got approached for a fight which was Otto Wallin. It was six weeks until the fight. He accepted the fight.
“Also, from there, we all know what the plan is. We all know what they want. We all know what we want, which is, of course, the fight with Deontay Wilder. They’ve both got to win, and we’ll work quietly behind the scenes whilst everyone is preparing. Hopefully, by the time they [Joshua & Wilder] are both victorious on December 23rd, we’ll know what the plan is. Yes [there is a rematch clause] because it’s Anthony Joshua, the biggest star in the sport,” Hearn
Joshua’s Ambitions
Nevertheless, when it came to Joshua’s negotiations for the Dillian Whyte fight, which was pulled after the latter’s failed test, Joshua did retract on a rematch clause as he agreed to a one-way fight. However, the change in stance may have been due to the fact that Joshua’s career must be handled carefully if he does desire to become a three-time world champion.
With Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in the latter parts of their career, Joshua is still in the mix for another world title they do decide to retire following their undisputed fight on February 17th, 2024. And that is the aim for Joshua moving forward.
“I can’t predict the future, but I know what I want to do,” Joshua said at a press conference. “I believe I’m going to be a three-time heavyweight champion and the first step is to put a demolition job on Otto Wallin,” Joshua stated
And in order to do that, Joshua has been pictured training with Ben Davidson for this fight. This naturally raises question marks over his relationship with Derrick James. It is not clear if this is a one-off move, or if Joshua has decided to leave the American. Either way, it is important to note that Davidson was Fury’s trainer for his fight with Wallin, showing that he does have knowledge of the Swede. And that could prove pivotal come fight night.
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