British boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder is close to being finalised.
Hearn is holding meetings with Saudi Arabian promotional outfit Skills Challenge Promotions and Wilder’s representatives next week in London to close the deal.
Joshua and Wilder are expected to square off in Saudi Arabia in December while Skills Challenge are also planning to play host to Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s long-awaited undisputed fight on the same card.
Speaking with Boxing News, Hearn said:”We’re looking to stage meetings in London next week to finalise the deal. We believe in Prince Khalid and Skills Challenge in terms of their desire to make the fight.
“It’s always slow but next week there are meetings in London to close the deal for Joshua-Wilder.
“Usyk’s in obviously, Wilder has never made that kind of money, he’s in. Skills Challenge know the money we’ve made to fight Ruiz and Usyk.
“So, if they bear that in mind we’re in and then there is Fury and I can’t speak for Fury but I think if the money’s right then I’m sure he’s in.
“But what’s the right money? I’m sure everyone has their different ideas.”
Wilder and Joshua have had multiple attempts to stage a fight between the pair fall through in the past.
In 2019, when they were both at the peak of their powers and held all-four major sanctioning body belts between them, a £39.3million ($50m) offer was made to Joshua for a fight with the ‘Bronze Bomber’.
However, Joshua turned it down because of a set of undisclosed terms in the contract that he says made it ‘impossible’ to accept.
But with Skills Challenge overseeing negotiations as a third party and said to be offering even more money, it looks as though fans will finally be treated to the blockbuster showdown this year.
