Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder edges closer after Eddie Hearn reveals 'positive' talks in New York
KEY POINTS
- Joshua and Wilder have a combined record of 59-0 with 58 knockouts.
- The two unbeaten heavyweights have been targeting a title unification bout.
- Hearn met with Wilder's promoters in the Big Apple.
Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn has revealed that he had a positive meeting with Deontay Wilder's promoters over a mega heavyweight title fight with Anthony Joshua.
The two unbeaten heavyweights have targeted a fight with each other to unify their belts with Joshua holding the WBA, IBF and IBO titles, while Wilder currently holds the WBO title.
Hearn, who promotes Joshua, has been open to the fight, recently revealing that it is being planned for 2018 as well as talking about a potential location for the bout.
The latest update, however, is the most promising one, as Hearn, who is in New York ahead of Daniel Jacobs' fight with Luis Arias, met up with Wilder's promoters to iron out the details of the fight.
"We're all optimistic," Hearn told Sky Sports News. "[The meeting] was positive and now we move forward.
"We look at the venues, crunch the numbers and get to the nitty-gritty of negotiations, which will be over the next couple of weeks. I think there's a willingness from both camps to do it next. We also talked about waiting until summer.
"There are lots of different permutations right now, different venue options as well, talk of one fight in America and one in the UK. But also the understanding that this is a huge fight and one we must get made in 2018."
Despite "AJ" having other options such as a title unification fight with WBC heavyweight champion Joseph Parker and a much-anticipated meeting with fellow Brit Tyson Fury, Hearn claims a Joshua vs Wilder fight will be the biggest event in boxing, despite claiming otherwise just recently.
"It will be the most talked-about event the world over – 59-0 with 58 KOs between them," he explained. "We're all excited because we love boxing.
"We want to make the big fights but also make great business; we have to do what's right for our clients. But Joshua wants this fight bad and so does Wilder.
"Fingers crossed, the next couple of weeks play out well, we have a good Christmas, and hopefully a nice present for fight fans in 2018."
