Subsequent Anthony Joshua struggle has left Dillian Whyte livid with Eddie Hearn

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed Anthony Joshua is closing in on a deal to struggle Deontay Wilder subsequent in a shock flip of occasions. The two-time former unified world heavyweight champion might be taking to the ring for the primary time since defeating Jermaine Franklin, however is unlikely to be going through fellow Brit Dillian Whyte.

Hearn has claimed that Whyte priced himself out of a deal earlier this 12 months and has since moved on to search out one other challenger for AJ. Speaking to Boxing News, Hearn revealed that there have been conferences for Joshua to finalise a deal to lastly face former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.

“We’re looking to stage meetings in London next week to finalise the deal,” Hearn mentioned when discussing struggle offers in Saudi Arabia. “We consider in Prince Khalid and Skills Challenge by way of their want to make the struggle. It’s all the time gradual however subsequent week there are conferences in London to shut the deal for Joshua-Wilder.”

This will not be the primary time the pair have been linked with a struggle. Back in 2019 the duo held all-four main belts between them however AJ reportedly turned down the problem over issues within the contract.

Wilder’s final struggle lasted a matter of minutes when he knocked out Finland’s Robert Helenius in August 2022, just below three minutes into the primary spherical. The struggle was the American’s first since a 3rd conflict in opposition to Tyson Fury, which he misplaced by way of knock-out within the eleventh spherical.

Instead of Wilder, Joshua’s subsequent struggle was closely tipped to be second conflict in opposition to Dillian Whyte. Prior to Hearn’s latest feedback, rumors of a second all-British struggle between the pair had been mentioned however has since been shut down after Hearn claimed a monetary settlement could not be made with Whyte.

The news seemingly got here as a shock to the 35-year-old heavyweight who has since hit again at Hearn’s feedback. Speaking to The Sun, Whyte mentioned: “They’re talking rubbish. I haven’t turned down the fight.

“All I obtained, after Eddie talked publicly and infrequently about making me a proposal to struggle AJ, was a really quick electronic mail late within the night on Friday 2 June. I completely 100 per cent need to struggle AJ and known as Eddie to debate the supply however could not pay money for him.

“I messaged him too. I didn’t hear back from him so I sent him an email to confirm I wanted the fight. I didn’t turn down the offer or propose a counter-offer. All I did was ask normal questions on his three-line email so-called offer.”

Whyte hasn’t fought since November 2022 the place he managed to defeat Jermain Franklin on factors at Wembley Arena. The struggle got here off the again of a TKO defeat to Tyson Fury in April earlier that 12 months.