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Deontay Wilder win ‘fuels’ demand for Anthony Joshua showdown, says Barry Hearn

Watch AJ-Ruiz Jr, Katie Taylor's undisputed world title fight, Callum Smith's world title defence on June 1, live on Sky Sports Box Office

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Matchroom Sport chairman Barry Hearn says he was 'super impressed' by Deontay Wilder's knockout of Dominic Breazeale to retain his WBC heavyweight title

Deontay Wilder's explosive win has set the scene for lucrative fights with Anthony Joshua, Dillian Whyte and Tyson Fury, but negotiations remain complicated, warned Matchroom Sport chairman Barry Hearn.

Wilder landed a huge right hand to stop Dominic Breazeale inside one round - his 20th first-round KO - at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Sunday to retain his WBC heavyweight crown.

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The American promised a unification showdown with Joshua, who will make his US debut against Andy Ruiz Jr in New York on June 1, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Asked for his verdict of Wilder's performance, Hearn told Sky Sports News: "Super impressed. Great punch.

"I won't take anything away from Deontay because that punch would have knocked out anybody, including Anthony Joshua.

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Deontay Wilder delivers a showreel knockout in the 1st round against Dominic Breazeale

"It was a hell of a good shot but it is a lot easier when the other bloke is standing in front of you with his left arm down and his chin showing up to the moon. It was a great finish.

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"It just fuels the whole heavyweight division. We are all talking about Tyson Fury, Dillian Whyte, Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and everyone is getting impatient to put them all together."

You can't blame the fighters for wanting to pick the time when they put their records on the line
Barry Hearn

The clamour for an undisputed title fight between Britain's unified champion Joshua and Wilder continues to grow but Hearn has urged patience.

"It is time, of course it is time as far as the fans are concerned. But let's just put us in the picture of the boxers," he said.

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Matthew Macklin analyses Deontay Wilder's destructive knockout of Dominc Breazeale

"A year ago Deontay Wilder against Anthony Joshua was probably a $50m fight. One year later [and] it is now around a $100-150m fight. It is going up $50m every three or four months.

"You can't blame the fighters for wanting to pick the time when they put their records on the line. That is for sure.

"The fans, like us, want to see it now, especially at my age! I want to see it now just in case I am not here when it comes around. But there are some fabulous fights to make.

"There are a lot of problems with it and I don't think it will be easy."

Anthony Joshua
Image: Anthony Joshua makes his US debut at Madison Square Garden on June 1

Ruiz Jr stepped in to replace Jarrell Miller after the latter's failed drug test and the California-based Mexican, who has 21 KOs from his 32 victories, will be a stern examination for Joshua, according to Hearn.

"I think this is a tougher fight than Jarrell Miller," he said. "I watched him lose a split decision to [Joseph] Parker, who went the distance with AJ, in New Zealand.

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"He was never going to win because the judges obviously favoured the local fighter. That is his only loss and he is a Mexican and Mexicans are proud people.

"He wants to be the first Mexican heavyweight champion of the world."

Watch Anthony Joshua's US debut against Andy Ruiz Jr, Katie Taylor's undisputed world lightweight title fight, Callum Smith's first world title defence and the undercard at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 1, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

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