Eddie Hearn flies to Saudi Arabia to finalize Joshua vs Wilder fight deal

Eddie Hearn, the promoter for Anthony Joshua, has travelled to Saudi Arabia to further negotiations for a possible fight in December with Deontay Wilder.

It has been widely reported in boxing over the past few weeks that the Middle Eastern country hopes to host a heavyweight spectacle at the end of this year.

The Saudis want to stage the undisputed heavyweight world title bout in December, provided Oleksandr Usyk wins his mandatory defence against Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury triumphs in his fight this summer.

However, they have a highly ambitious idea to schedule Joshua vs. Wilder and Fury vs. Usyk on the same night.

The top four heavyweights would go off on the same show in the proposed event, which would be the first of its type in boxing history.

Of course, the majority of boxing fans are quite doubtful of the idea, but negotiations with the representatives of all four boxers are still going on in an effort to make it happen.

On Thursday, Hearn posted a picture showing that he’d arrived in Riyadh after previously stating that he was set for meetings over the idea this week.

The idea will now be to advance talks and attempt to make the dream event a reality.

Last week, AJ told the Metro: “He is good, I respect him, I don’t undermine him. That will make me raise my game.

“I respect what he has done and what he has done in this division. It is hard to become a champion and he did it so I have to respect that.

“It’s going to be a tough fight but I am confident in myself. I’m a better, more well-rounded athlete, a better, more well-rounded fighter.

“In terms of it getting delivered [from my side], I honestly believe it is 95 per cent there.”

And when asked about the potential fight with Joshua, Wilder told ESNews: “Let’s make it happen. If that’s what’s going on, let’s make it happen.

“Let’s put it like this, I’ll keep it sweet – I’mma give Saudi their first knockout victim. I can deliver that for them.

“They haven’t had that much excitement as far of knockouts. I’mma bless them with it.

“Any Deontay Wilder fight you can expect that, but this one’s gonna be real special.”