As long as both Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder win in their respective fights on December 23, Eddie Hearn, the British-Nigerian fighter's promoter, sees Joshua taking on Wilder in 2024.
Two days before Christmas, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Joshua will square off against Otto Wallin, while Wilder will face Joseph Parker on the same card. This fight would be among the most thrilling heavyweight bouts in sports history if both Joshua and Wilder win in their respective fights.
Head of Matchroom Sport Hearn had previously said that his client might look into a possible shot at the vacant IBF title against highly regarded Croatian fighter Filip Hrgovic.
Oleksandr Usyk, the current unified champion, is also the holder of the WBO and WBA belts. On February 17 in Riyadh, the Ukrainian will challenge WBC champion Tyson Fury for all three belts.
Hearn thinks that mandatory demands from sanctioning bodies, particularly the IBF, will probably result in the belts being separated once more in the event that an undisputed champion is crowned.
In that case, it might be desirable for Joshua to challenge Hrgovic for the IBF title since it would give the 34-year-old the opportunity to win the heavyweight title three times.
Hearn now believes that Joshua vs. Wilder would have too much momentum at that point to think of any other options.
“It’s very likely that after Fury vs Usyk 1, the belts will fragment, particularly the IBF. If that fragments and Joshua beats Wallin on Dec. 23rd, it would be Hrgovic against Joshua. But by then it’s very likely that Joshua vs Wilder could be contracted and probably will be contracted,” Hearn told Boxing Social.
“We won’t be able to U-turn at that point. We’re full steam ahead trying to make the Wilder fight. WBC final eliminator? If that’s what it’s called. I would just call it the biggest fight in boxing at that point. When that fight happens and the only way that fight happens is if they both win on December 23rd on the same card. And if they do win on the same card, on the same night, that fight is the biggest fight in boxing.”
