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SPORTS Monday 24 SepteMber 2018

'We want Wilder': Team Joshua eager to fix unification fight

By STEVE DOUGLAS
AP Sports Writer
LONDON (AP) — No sooner
had Anthony Joshua bru-
tally dispatched another
pretender to his heavy-
weight titles than attention
turned to who the British
fighter would face next as
he seeks to clean up box-
ing's most glamorous divi-
sion.
An eagerly anticipated
fight on Dec. 1 will go a
long way to clearing that
up.
Deontay Wilder, the WBC
champion, is scheduled to
take on Tyson Fury, the for-
mer champion before drug
and health issues got in the
way, somewhere in Las Ve-
gas. It's a fight between two
unbeaten heavyweights
who represent the biggest
threat to Joshua, the WBA,
IBF and WBO belt-holder,
and could provide his next
opponent.
Joshua, now with a 22-0
record after toughing out
a victory over Alexander
Povetkin in front of 80,000
at Wembley Stadium on Anthony Joshua celebrates defeating Alexander Povetkin to retained his WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight boxing titles, Saturday,
Saturday, said he isn't both- Sept. 22, 2018, at Wembley Stadium in London.
ered who wins out of Wilder Associated Press
and Fury. In fact, he even
suggested he won't even off. $50m would be "peanuts" pealing prospect. then inflicted only Povet-
watch it. "I don't want to be disre- compared to what could Joshua would then have to kin's second career loss.
His promoter has other spectful here, but Tyson be offer next year. turn to someone like fellow They were both ranked as
ideas, however. Fury is the most unentertain- "I don't want to wait until Briton Dillian Whyte for his the No. 3 heavyweight in
"We want Wilder," Eddie ing fighter I've ever seen," December for him to finish April 13 fight. the world when they took
Hearn said. Hearn said, dismissively. his fight, get some rest and So, it's a case of wait and on Joshua, who realistically
For Hearn, Wilder vs. Joshua "He's never been in a good then start negotiating," said see for Joshua, who has only has two credible rivals
— pitting the two biggest fight in his whole career. Joshua, who is contractu- a seven-month break be- currently in the division.
punchers in boxing togeth- Deontay Wilder against ally obliged to return to fore getting back in the Fury has returned after a
er — would be one of the Joshua is the biggest fight Wembley on April 13 for his ring. He'll do so with more 2 1/2-year absence with
biggest fights in boxing his- in world boxing and it's the next fight. "I start training for experience in the bank af- two almost farcically easy
tory and would be must-see most exciting matchup you a fight again early January. ter a difficult fight against fights, which gave him
viewing, stylistically. There's can make." I want to get my fight fixed Povetkin that started with some much-needed time in
also the issue of unifying the The Wilder and Joshua as soon as possible this side the Briton getting a busted the ring but barely proved
belts while the opportunity camps negotiated last of the year, so I know what nose in the first round and a thing.
is there. year for a fight — there was I'm doing next year." ended with a devastating Fury vs. Joshua — the bad
"We want to be undisputed talk of $50 million on the Aside from what will un- flurry of punches that sent boy against the poster boy
heavyweight champion table — but couldn't find doubtedly by tough nego- the 39-year-old Russian — would get Britons excited
of the world," Hearn said, a middle ground. Hearn tiations with Wilder's peo- nearly stumbling through but Wilder vs. Joshua really
looking across to Joshua. is eager to resume talks ple, another possible bar- the ropes. gets the pulses racing.
Hearn also sees Fury, a and agree to a deal in the rier for Hearn will be if Fury In his last two fights, Joshua "No problem, I fight whoev-
loudmouth out of the ring coming weeks that can be wins on Dec. 1. That would has beaten the previously er," Joshua said. "I'll always
and a pragmatic boxer in rubber-stamped as soon as make a rematch likely, and undefeated Joseph Parker knock them down, one by
it, as something of a turn- Wilder beats Fury. He said also make Wilder a less-ap- convincingly on points and one."q