Sports

Barry Hearn urges Anthony Joshua to reject Deontay Wilder fight

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Anthony Joshua told to reject Wilder offer and put off fighting American by top adviser — Anthony Joshua is still mulling over his next move (Picture: Getty)

Anthony Joshua has been advised to put off fighting Deontay Wilder by Barry Hearn.

The IBF, WBO and WBA (Super) champion is locked in talks with Wilders team, with AJs camp being spearheaded by Barrys son and Matchroom boss, Eddie Hearn.

Joshua wants to unify the heavyweight division and has to fight and beat WBC champion Wilder to achieve that goal.

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But, talks between the two camps have not gone smoothly and Eddie Hearn is set to fly to New York this week to hold further negotiations with Wilders promoter Shelly Finkel.

The Hearns sat down with Joshua on Tuesday afternoon to discuss his options and Barry insisted the time was not right to fight Wilder.

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The Deontay Wilder fight, if I was Anthony Joshua, Id be leaving that for a little while, Hearn said.

WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder cuts up in an interview before the GEICO 500 NASCAR Talladega auto race at Talladega Superspeedway, Sunday, April 29, 2018, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) — Deontay Wilder is the unification option (Picture: Associated Press)

Eddie Hearn, Anthony Joshua and Barry Hearn in the audience at The O2 Arena, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday February 3, 2018. See PA story BOXING London. Photo credit should read: Adam Davy/PA Wire — Barry Hearns son Eddie is Joshuas promoter (Picture: PA Wire)

Not because Im worried about Deontay Wilder, but at this moment in time, maybe Im looking at 500,000 to 600,000 pay-per-view buyers.

I said to Anthony, “If you had six months to live I would say go and fight Deontay Wilder, take the most money, but if youre saying to me that youve got a legacy plan then Im saying lets capitalise on it properly.”

Thats his decision and his teams, because I dont do the boxing. But its a credible way of doing business. If you start letting the fans be the matchmaker youll end up being skint.

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Boxing - Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker - World Heavyweight Title Unification Fight - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - March 31, 2018 Anthony Joshua celebrates with the belts after winning the fight Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY — Joshua holds three of the four major world titles (Picture: Reuters)

I believe Joshua is planning another eight years at the top.

The reason our meeting is starting at two oclock is so that he can fit a gym session in in the morning. While hes got that attitude I dont have a worry about anyone beating Anthony Joshua.

I just have the worry over whether Im getting the maximum amount of money for my client, because thats my job. His job is knocking people out.

Anthony Joshua celebrates with the WBO Heavyweight belt after victory over Joseph Parker in their WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO Heavyweight Championship contest at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday March 30, 2018. See PA story BOXING Cardiff. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire — (Picture: PA)

Joshua has several potential opponents vying for his attention, and Hearn confirmed there were three major frontrunners.

He said: I have a meeting with Anthony Joshua on Tuesday with Eddie, before Eddie goes off to New York. The decision is numbers – its a numbers game and its nothing to do with boxing.

Its purely to do with thats what you get if you fight Alexander Povetkin, thats what you get if you fight Jarrell Miller, thats what you get if you fight Deontay Wilder in England, thats what you get if you fight Deontay Wilder in America.

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