Eddie Hearn is doubtful that Anthony Joshua’s next fight will be against Dillian Whyte.
‘AJ’ is targeting an opponent for August as he plans ahead for an end-of-year fight with Deontay Wilder. The former world champion earned a decision win over Jermaine Franklin in April but looked far from his best and is hoping to get another fight under his belt as he continues to work with new trainer Derrick James, leading AJ’s team to shut down talks of a potential showdown with Tyson Fury in September.
Hearn stated earlier this month that an offer had been made to Whyte for a proposed fight in August. However, the Matchroom promoter has admitted that the rematch between the pair is unlikely to take place due to financial demands.
“AJ’s trying to fight on August 12 and iI think he will but we need to announce this week,” Hearn told the DAZN Boxing Show. “I don’t think it will be Dillian Whyte.
“I just think talking about money and trying to find some middle ground, it’s difficult. Obviously (Whyte) has his perceived value in that fight, we have the number that we think is right, obviously AJ wants to get paid. It’s very difficult. I just don’t think financially – being completely honest – we can reach a deal with Dillian Whyte for that fight.”
The promoter has insisted that Joshua’s opponent will be ranked in the top 15 of the division but Whyte has questioned Matchroom’s negotiation tactics. The former world title challenger believes his rematch with Joshua is being undervalued by attempts to arrange a fight at short-notice and potentially being hosted at London’s O2 Arena, rather than a stadium show.
"I don't think that they're serious about the fight,” Whyte told Sky Sports. "They're worrying about the fight and I don't blame them. If he's going to get £50m to fight Wilder in Saudi in December it just baffles me.”
Hearn did have positive news about Joshua’s possible fight with Wilder, though. Saudi Arabian promotion company Skills Challenge Entertainment is targeting a heavyweight event for the end of the year, which could also be headlined by Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, and Hearn admitted that Joshua’s fight with Wilder may be announced in the coming weeks.
“When Prince Khalid and those guys tell me it’s done, it’s happening, I believe them," Hearn continued. "I didn’t believe them at first for the Andy Ruiz fight (in 2019) but I quickly realised that these guys are real. We hope to get, contractually, everything signed off in the next one-to-two weeks with Deontay Wilder.”
