Hearn Wants Wilder Vs. AJ For Next Spring
Eddie Hearn is hoping to make Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder for spring next year.
The two boxers are currently preparing to appear on a mega Saudi Arabia card on December 23rd, 2023, in their respective fights. Joshua faces Otto Wallin, whose only loss has come at the hands of Tyson Fury. Meanwhile, Wilder will take on the former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker. And provided that both boxers come through with wins, there is an expectation to get the fight made. The two had first been linked with each other in 2018 for the right to fight for undisputed. Those talks failed to materialize into a fight, as both fighters lost their belts. But now that the enthusiasm to see the fight has reemerged, Hearn was pressing ahead with his plans.
Hearn On AJ Vs. Wilder
“They’ve [the Saudis] have made it clear. They want AJ against Wilder, and so does the world, and we will get there, I believe, but they both must win on December 23rd. Deontay has a pretty straight up and down opponent in Joseph Parker, who has definitely got himself together and is in a good place.
“If he can get into the fight early, he has a chance. He can get stopped early as anyone can against Deontay Wilder. But he’s a great fighter and a good guy as well. I think Wallin is a tough fight for AJ. Six weeks out against a tall, gifted southpaw, who is coming off a really big win in Russia against Gassiev, who is full of confidence. AJ has to stamp his authority on that. “If they [Wilder & Joshua] can be victorious, then I do believe you’ll see that fight in the spring,” Hearn stated
AJ Vs. Hrgovic
Nevertheless, there are other options on the table for Joshua. Hearn had confirmed that the Brit’s main aim was to try and become a three-time heavyweight champion of the world in the easiest possible way. That has led to suggestions that Joshua could fight Filip Hrgovic, who is the current IBF interim champion. A win over the Croatian would put Joshua in a mandatory position to face the winner of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk. After all, the IBF has stated that the winner of that fight must make their first defense against their mandatory, otherwise they would be stripped. And given that both fighters are with Matchroom Boxing, the fight would not be too difficult to get made.
“If the belts become available early next year, then it would be number one against number two. If AJ beats Wallin, he puts himself in line to fight Hrgvovic for the vacant title. This [Wallin] is a tough fight. We saw (Wallin) against Tyson Fury, he’s a good southpaw and we have seen something different from AJ (Joshua). I think the best chapter is still to write for AJ. He changed the face of Saudi boxing and this is a challenge he wants to take. He wants to be heavyweight champion again and I think this will be a destructive performance from him,” Hearn said
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