“We Are Obviously in a Limbo”: After Hopes Lost for $400 Million Saudi Card, “Mentally Committed” Eddie Hearn Leaving No Stones Unturned in Salvaging Potential Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder Fight

Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder was all the hype a few months ago. So much so that there was even talk of a $400 million purse for a potential Joshua-Wilder and Fury-Usyk double showdown event in Saudi Arabia. However, both deals failed to materialize. Soon the Saudis lost interest and moved on. This was back in April. A lot has changed since then.

Right now, the Saudis are busy hosting a boxing match between Tyson Fury and former UFC champion Francis Ngannou set to take place in Riyadh on October 28. There is a high probability that they may push for a fight between Fury and Usyk. A couple of days ago, the WBC ranked Wilder and Joshua as their No.1 and No.2 heavyweights. This means that if the ‘Gypsy King’ wants to keep his WBC title, he will have to fight either Wilder or Joshua very soon.

The winner of the fight between Wilder and Joshua is supposed to determine who gets to face Fury. However, even at this moment, there is no confirmed date for the fight. Eddie Hearn, in his part as AJ’s promoter, is optimistic and determined. But recent developments have cast a shadow over the potential Wilder vs. Joshua fight. So what has caused this delay and is the fight still a possibility?

Joshua vs. Wilder: A silver lining emerges

There were many problems from the beginning of the conception of this fight. Firstly, both parties took their sweet time to negotiate a deal. Secondly, according to Hearn, Wilder and Joshua, both wanted the match to be held somewhere in the “Middle East or Saudi Arabia because of the high prize money.” So by the time they came to an understanding, there was no one around to host the match.

In a recent interview with Boxing Social, Eddie Hearn explained the confusion behind the scenes which caused the delays. Hearn said that Wilder’s promoters have still not given them a contract. “At the moment, until we receive a contract to do that fight, it’s not happening,” he said. Since both parties have failed to come to an understanding, where does that leave the two fighters? Hearn replied, “We are obviously in a limbo.”

Since the match cannot happen in the Middle East, the only likely locations are the US or the UK. Wilder draws in a sizeable crowd in the US whereas, in the UK, AJ is very popular. This difference, it seems, is one factor that a negotiation has not yet been finalized between the two groups. However, Hearn is still positive that the fight will happen.

“We’re both mentally committed to that fight, both camps,” reiterating his commitment to making the fight a reality. However, the fans are dejected by the constant delays and uncertainty surrounding the event.

Also Read: “I’m Just Focused On Smashing His Head”: Moments After Claiming to Carry the Heavyweight Division, Anthony Joshua Sends a Message to Deontay Wilder

In a recent discussion, Hearn said he brought the matter up with Wilder’s promoters. “We thought that fight was done. If it is not done, we’d like to save it because we all want the fight,” he added. Hearn has said that he is still committed to salvaging the situation. One can only hope that he does because the match has already generated a lot of anticipation.

Hearn strongly believes that AJ fighting Fury will be the biggest heavyweight fight in recent times. If that fight is to happen, then AJ will have to defeat ‘The Bronze Bomber’ very soon. If he fails to do that, Fury might just go on to fight Oleksandr Usyk next year, thereby dooming AJ’s chances at the WBC title forever. Let us wait and see what new excitement this saga brings.

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