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One down, Joshua begins Deontay Wilder ‘negotiations next week’

Promoter Barry Hearn has revealed that negotiations for an Anthony Joshua versus Deontay Wilder negotiations could start as early as next week.Joshua has Wilder’s WBC crown in his sights after beating Joseph Parker on points to add the WBO title to his IBF and WBA belts.

Anthony Joshua.PHOTO: AFP

Promoter Barry Hearn has revealed that negotiations for an Anthony Joshua versus Deontay Wilder negotiations could start as early as next week.Joshua has Wilder’s WBC crown in his sights after beating Joseph Parker on points to add the WBO title to his IBF and WBA belts.

A world heavyweight title unification fight between the pair has been hotly tipped in the wake of the Brit’s victory against Parker.
And Matchroom chairman, Hearn said: “It is a fight Anthony Joshua really wants and I think he wants it this year.”

Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, he added: “Anthony Joshua wants all the belts – that is the big card Deontay Wilder has got to play [but] commercially, Joshua is far bigger than Deontay Wilder.“I think Wilder would come over here [the UK] because in the world we live in, in boxing, the couple of million dollars Wilder is getting for a fight is pretty small fry in comparison to the rewards that await him for a Joshua fight.

“I think negotiations will start next week.”Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn – the son of Barry – wants the fight against Wilder to “happen in 2018” because he is concerned about the IBF, WBA and WBO calling mandatory challengers.

Speaking after the win against Parker, he said: “I think it has to happen in 2018 otherwise we are going to hit some major problems with the politics and the mandatories.

“If they (Wilder’s management) stepped up and were actually serious about the fight, and serious about a deal we are more than fair to offer them, it could happen next.“But they are so erratic and unpredictable, I don’t know what to believe.”

Joshua is one fight away from capturing all four major heavyweight titles and he is also determined to get the bout on before the end of the year.

“It has been a big question that was asked after the fight,” he said. “I am not into the business of hype, hype, talk, talk.“I would love to maybe go to America with Eddie and Rob (Joshua’s trainer Rob McCracken) and look at the landscape and deal with this behind closed doors.

“But a lot of negotiations can go on over social media and YouTube and stuff, but when you are doing serious business, you have to sit down in confidential privacy and then we can see how serious people are about taking the fight.”

Speaking in the ring after his victory against Parker was confirmed, Joshua vowed to “knock [Wilder] spark out.”The American quickly reacted to Joshua’s challenge and wrote on Instagram: “What a robbery, wow.“Joseph Parker great job bro, oh my God don’t apologise you did nothing wrong, you’re a true champion.“Anthony Joshua I accept 100 per cent.”

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