Either the public pressure has gotten to Anthony Joshua or watching Wilder fight Ortiz leads them to believe he is ripe for the taking.
Whatever the case after saying for months the fight would need to marinate, they have reversed course and said the fight would happen immediately IF Joshua beats Joseph Parker.
A much-anticipated undisputed heavyweight world championship fight between titleholders Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder remains a difficult deal to make. But at least Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has changed his tune about the timing of trying to make it.
Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, told ESPN that he wants to make the fight next rather than have unified titlist Joshua first fight an interim bout in August, which was his initial plan. Of course, Joshua still has business to attend to. He must get past titleholder Joseph Parker in their three-belt unification fight on March 31 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. But if he does, Hearn said he hopes to make the fight with Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs).
“I’d like to see the Wilder fight next,” said Hearn, who is in Southern California because his fighter, Scott Quigg, is facing featherweight world titlist Oscar Valdez on Saturday night at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
“The truth is Wilder wants the fight, Joshua wants the fight. I want the fight. They want the fight. As you know when that happens, fights get made.”
We will see.