Hearn Outlines Joshua’s Other Options Instead Of Wilder

Eddie Hearn has provided two other options if a fight between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder cannot get made. 

Talks over a fight have been ongoing ever since reports that Saudi were keen on hosting a four-man heavyweight tournament. And speculation over that only increased when Joshua knocked out Robert Helenius in the seventh round.

However, since then, a fight has not been signed despite the positive words coming from Hearn. The former has repeatedly stated that an agreement has been reached, subject to a contract. However, his latest comments may not satisfy boxing fans with suggestions that other opponents are being considered. 

Hearn On Joshua

“We’ve agreed terms for Joshua-Wilder, but until we receive a contract the fight is not happening…It doesn’t just have to happen in Saudi Arabia. There are now other talks about other countries that it could take place in. It’s one of the biggest fights in heavyweight boxing, we are being told they do [want to do it],” Hearn

Joshua’s Options

This naturally begs the question: what other possible options are available if Joshua-Wilder does not happen? Well, the Matchroom Boxing promoter highlighted two other fighters in the form of Andy Ruiz Jr. and Filip Hrgovic.

The former has already faced Joshua in two bouts as the record stands at 1-1. In the first bout, Ruiz shocked the world to stop AJ on his American debut and to become the unified heavyweight champion. However, in the rematch, Ruiz was beaten on points. 

As for Hrgovic, he is a Matchroom fighter which would make any deal with the Croatian a lot easier. But since he is the IBF mandatory to Oleksandr Usyk, a fight with the Ukrainian makes more sense. Regardless of what the case may be, Hearn is looking for a top opponent. 

“It would need to be a step up, but it would probably take place outside of the UK [because] he’s just boxed two fights at the O2 [Arena] in four months. There’s no guarantee he’ll fight in December and we still wanna make the Wilder fight,” Hearn

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