Eddie Hearn has confirmed that he is open to negotiating a dual-broadcast deal with Deontay Wilder for the Anthony Joshua fight. In the past, television rights have been one of the biggest problems facing the completion of big fights.
Only recently, details have emerged about the broadcasting issues holding up the mega fight between Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis.
Joshua’s broadcaster DAZN has always shown a willingness to work with rival broadcasters as seen in the negotiations for Tyson Fury vs Joshua in which a DAZN/BT Sport dual broadcast deal was agreed upon in principle by both parties.
Wilder’s promoter PBC has an exclusive partnership with Fox Sports and is known for putting its foot down when it comes to allowing contracted fighters to compete in major events on other platforms. However, Hearn doesn’t think that will be a problem.
“These fighters also have to look out for themselves and take on opportunities. If fights can’t be made in one way, they should look in another way. Contractually sometimes that’s difficult but if it’s not difficult you have to look at that.”
Joshua is expected to return between February and April next year against a ‘credible top 15 opponent’. Otto Wallin, Filip Hrgovic, Dillian Whyte, and Zhang Zhilei have all been rumoured as possible next opponents. While Wilder is in consideration for fight number two.
He added: “I see that as fight two for Anthony Joshua probably, but it depends when he fights, if he fights earlier in the year, he’ll probably have his bigger fight in the summer. That bigger fight will be Dillian Whyte, Deontay Wilder, who knows what will happen with Tyson Fury.
“AJ is not really interested in just having tick-over fights. Sometimes those are very dangerous in the heavyweight division, so he loves the Wilder fight. I’ve said it could be the biggest fight in boxing.
“I know the Fury fight is big, but AJ vs Wilder is big. We will continue to have conversations with Shelly Finkel and hopefully, we can work with Deontay Wilder.”