Eddie Hearn confirms Anthony Joshua-Deontay Wilder deal is off; reveals new ‘plan’ for mega-fight

Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn has confirmed that Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder will not take place in January but this bout is still being “planned”.

Joshua vs Wilder is a major dream fight that has been called for throughout their respective careers. 

It has consistently been suggested this year that this bout is likely for the end of this year or the start of 2024 as talks have been ongoing with officials in Saudi Arabia. 

But with the Middle East nation turning their attention to Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou (and Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk next, possibly), discussions regarding Joshua vs Wilder have gone quiet of late. 

Hearn has now confirmed that this huge heavyweight bout will not be happening in December or January but they are “talking to other sites about that fight”. 

“That was supposed to happen in January, we accepted the offer,” Hearn said in an interview with IFL TV.

“We know it’s not materialised now. Because it was made by someone who couldn’t deliver the fight at that time.

“We’d agreed, Wilder had agreed, now we’re talking to other sites about that fight in February or March and that’s still the plan, very much the plan.”

Deontay Wilder "would love" to fight Anthony Joshua "as soon as possible" despite reports of a breakdown in talks for a fight in 🇸🇦

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) September 29, 2023

Joshua has fought twice this year as he has beaten Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius. 

With the Wilder fight looking less likely, Joshua could return to the ring in December and Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang has been billed as a potential opponent. 

Zhang is coming off consecutive victories over Brit Joe Joyce and these wins are likely to earn him a big fight. 

Hearn has indicated that Joshua would be open to facing Zhang next. 

“Absolutely, It's one we have always talked about.” Hearn answered when asked if Joshua vs Zhang could happen in China to whether Zhang Vs Joshua. “It is one we have always talked about because we represented Zhang for five or six fights. 

“There wasn’t really the interest there or the money from the [Chinese] government for that fight, but that was before Zhang had these notable victories. 

“So, we are up for it, If there is a big money offer out there for Zhang. Joshua wants the biggest fights out there. Really, there are two big big fights, one is Wilder, one is Fury. Zhang in the Bird’s Nest is right up there.”

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