Hearn Issues AJ Fight Plea To Wilder

Eddie Hearn has urged Deontay Wilder to “get on the phone” to line up a date with Anthony Joshua now his Tyson Fury rematch is off.

Hearn, promoter for WBO, WBA, IBF, IBO heavyweight champion Joshua, has always maintained that a unification bout with WBC belt holder Wilder is the ultimate fight which needs to happen in the heavyweight division.

However, the prospect of a scrap seemed a million miles away as Wilder was embroiled in negotiations with Fury about a rematch following their thrilling draw in Los Angeles on December 1.

In the meantime, Joshua has taken on the challenge of facing the unbeaten Jarrell Miller at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 1.

And, with Fury opting to look elsewhere for his next opponent it now leaves Wilder facing a showdown against Dominic Breazeale, who is the next mandatory WBC challenger.

Hearn claimed the news that Wilder and Fury’s rematch will not go ahead is “disappointing” but he sees it as a fresh chance for Joshua and Wilder to battle to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world if they both overcome their next opponents.

“It’s disappointing for everyone but possibly good for us,” Hearn told Yahoo Sports. “If I’m Deontay Wilder, I get on the phone and make the AJ [Anthony Joshua] undisputed fight as soon as possible.”