Anthony Joshua eager to take on Wilder, promoter reveals  

The much-awaited fight between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder may be held in December Match promoter, Eddie Hearn, said.

According to the promoter, terms have been agreed, and Joshua was eager for Wilder to confirm the bout.

Former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua has been strongly linked with fighting Wilder with a December date in Saudi Arabia touted in recent months.

“We’ve agreed the money, we’ve agreed everything,” said Hearn.

Speaking to BBC 5 Live Boxing, Hearn, who has promoted Joshua since he made his professional debut in 2013, said: “We’re waiting on the official contract, but we won’t wait forever.”

He said Saudi Arabia as a potential location had been complicated by “a change of environment in Saudi Arabia with the operators in boxing”.

Joshua, 33, has picked up two victories this year over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius respectively, following consecutive defeats to unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

“He [Joshua] is just training away but he wants Wilder,” added Hearn, who said the 2012 Olympic gold medallist wants to remain active.

“If it can’t be made, he wants to stay active. If he fights in December, that’ll be three fights in eight months which is incredible for him.”

However, Hearn believes a super fight between Joshua and WBC heavyweight champion Fury could still be in contention, should a deal with Skills Challenge Entertainment, who Hearn has been negotiating with for the Wilder fight, fall through.

“People keep saying he should have one more fight and then fight Wilder, but we don’t think so. If it ends up that way, so be it and nothing would surprise me,” said Hearn.

“If he fights in December, if he fights Deontay Wilder, if he fights Tyson Fury next – nothing would surprise me.”

The boxing promoter confirmed that Joshua will more than likely fight outside of England and has mentioned old rival Ruiz Jr as one potential opponent.

“There’s Filip Hrgovic and there’s Andy Ruiz Jr, but it probably won’t take place in this country,” added Hearn.

“He’s had two now on the spin at The O2 Arena, so maybe we go to Madison Square Garden, somewhere in the Middle East. It’s just about activity for him.”

Joshua avenged his defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia in 2019 after the Mexican sensationally knocked him out in New York at Madison Square Garden