Hearn believes there’s a good chance a deal will be reached
On Tuesday, 3KingsBoxing.com reported that Eddie Hearn felt it was time for both sides to get serious in regards to negotiations for a possible heavyweight unification showdown between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder. Hearn said he believed both guys wanted the fight and it was just a matter of the two sides taking the time to sit down and hash out a deal.
Earlier today Hearn told Sky Sports that negotiations have taking a turn for the positive in the past day. When asked if he felt a deal would be done soon and what were the chances he said: “Yeah I do. 70% at least”
He went on to reveal that the team’s have actually spoken as well;
“Their side has been very vocal in letting the media know about everything that is happening. We’ve had some positive conversations over the past day or so. Negotiations are ongoing and we’re all hopeful to reach an agreement.”
There’s little question that this is the biggest fight that could be made in the sport at this time.
The clock is running however on the time to get it done as Joshua has received orders from the WBA to start negotiating with his mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin. If a deal can’t be reached with the Russian the bout would go to a purse bid and that’s a situation in which Team Joshua wants to avoid at all costs if possible.
Should an agreement be reached for a unification bout with Wilder then Joshua could file for an exception with the WBA. The request would more than likely be granted as unification for a super champion such as Joshua, trumps a mandatory defense in most circumstances.
Wilder is currently under no obligations to make a mandatory defense anytime soon as he fought the WBC mandatory challenger Bermane Stiverne back in November. The rules allow for him to go as long as 18 months without facing a mandated challenge.
Hearn will be back in America next week to make a “big, huge announcement” according to him. Let’s hope him, Al Haymon, Shelly Finkel and Jay Deas can work out a deal so the fans get the fight they want and boxing gets it’s first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis.
By: Chris Henderson
