“AJ said to me, ‘I’ll fight Wilder and Fury back-to-back’,” Hearn told talkSPORT Boxing.
That attitude is notable because Wilder remains one of the most dangerous non-title fights available in the heavyweight division. Even after recent losses, his striking power makes him a serious risk for any comeback opponent.
Hearn said the Saudi-backed group behind the current proposal does not want to Joshua is taking that kind of risk ahead of a planned Fury fight later in the year.
“The deal we were offered is not with Deontay Wilder in mind. The powers that be don’t want us in that kind of fight.”
It suggests the priority is to keep the bigger commercial fight with Fury rather than putting Joshua first in a high-risk return in July.
Joshua has not fought since his stoppage loss to Daniel Dubois, and a return in July has been widely discussed as the likely next step. A controlled return will allow him to rebuild before entering a big stadium event.
Hearn insisted there is no reluctance on Joshua’s part if Wilder somehow returns to the table.
“We have no problem fighting Wilder. I don’t think it would be Wilder under the basis of this deal, but we’ll have to see.”
This is perhaps the clearest sign of where things stand. Joshua seems willing. Wilder remains dangerous. But the people funding the next move appear to be focused on getting Joshua to Fury intact. This usually tells you where box business is headed.
It’s the classic box business model, only with a much deeper wallet behind it. While fans want to see the best fight the best, the people signing the checks, specifically the Saudi-backed Riyadh Season team, see Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury as the ultimate jackpot.
From their perspective, pitting Joshua against Deontay Wilder in July is risky. Even if Joshua is the favourite, Wilder’s power means the entire 2026 schedule could be wiped out with one right hand.
