Eddie Hearn, the promoter of British boxer Anthony Joshua, has said that he expects a contract to be struck for a fight with Deontay Wilder, who formerly held the WBC world title.
The competition is scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in January.
According to Hearn, the only way Wilder-Joshua will fail is if Saudi Arabia’s Skill Challenge Promotion fails to provide the required finances to make the event a reality.
“[I think it will be finalized in] two or three weeks,” Hearn told Fight Hub TV. “I’ve been to Saudi Arabia twice to negotiate this fight. I’ve had two meetings, three meetings in London. I’m not doing it for banter. My instructions from Anthony Joshua [are] ‘I want to fight Deontay Wilder.’
The only way this clash will not take place is if Saudi Arabia fails to provide.
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“[Wilder manager] Shelly Finkel, Wilder, as far as I’m hearing from them directly, they are in. We are in. We just need to sign a contract and go through the procedures to get that done.”
If the arrangement to face Wilder falls through, Joshua will fight for the third time this year in December.
He defeated Jermaine Franklin in a twelve-round unanimous decision in April. Then, earlier this month, he knocked off late substitute Robert Helenius in the seventh round.
“If it doesn’t happen, I think [Joshua will] fight in December. But I’m not spinning that fight. All of our efforts have been for that fight,” he said.
“Honestly I wouldn’t waste my time flying all around the world trying to pretend that that’s the fight we want. That is the fight we want. It’s a massive fight, massive money, and that is what I have been instructed to deliver for AJ. We are positive. Like I said, we are in. If it can be delivered, we are in.”