Tuesday 12 June 2018 21:56, UK
Deontay Wilder will be sent a contract for the Anthony Joshua fight this week after the American 'agreed' to a unification clash next in the UK, says promoter Eddie Hearn.
Hearn contacted Joshua this morning to discuss the latest developments with the deal, and is waiting to see whether Wilder will sign for the next fight with Joshua, who is also close to a WBA mandatory title defence against Alexander Povektin.
"I spoke to AJ and Rob McCracken this morning and obviously we saw Deontay Wilder's stuff on social media.
There is a lot of sorting out to do for this fight, but great news that in principle he seems to be on board for the idea of coming to the UK for the fight.
"It's great that he's come back to us. We made this offer about four weeks ago and I don't know if he's come back because he's heard we're close to closing the Povetkin fight or whether he wants the fight, but either way he's going to be getting a contract from us ASAP.
"It's obviously the fight we want. There is a lot of sorting out to do for this fight, but great news that in principle he seems to be on board for the idea of coming to the UK for the fight.
"We're going to be dealing with it and we're going to be making sure he gets the relevant paperwork."
Joshua is keen to return to Wembley stadium, which was the venue of his epic victory over Wladimir Klitschko in 2017, but Hearn admits a September fight looks 'unlikely' and could be forced to push the date back, if it does take place this year.
"We see this as a Wembley fight and we're quite limited in that respect," said Hearn. "Obviously American TV and pay-per-view has to be considered. We've got to speak to them about what date suits them. There is a lot still to work out.
"I think Wembley is where Anthony Joshua wants it to take place. Obviously a brilliant night against Wladimir Klitschko. It seems a natural home.
"Our original plan and hope was to do it in the middle of September, but obviously this 'Canelo' fight on September 15 makes it a little more difficult with US TV and the fact that we've lost four weeks in waiting for an answer from Deontay Wilder, makes the fight happening in 11 or 12 weeks of this magnitude unlikely. If it is before Povetkin, then it runs on October and November.
"We've got to get to the bottom of it all today. One thing I can tell you is by the end of this week, Deontay Wilder will have a contract in front of him and we'll see if he's real."
Lewis Ritson against Paul Hyland Jr and Josh Kelly versus Kris George is on Sky Sports Action from 7pm on Saturday night.
