Athony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, believes that the British-Nigerian will have his first bout of 2024 against Deontay Wilder as long as they both win their respective fights on December 23.
Joshua will headline against Otto Wallin two days before Christmas in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Wilder will take on Joseph Parker on the same card. Should both Joshua and Wilder win their respective fights, it would set up one of the most exciting heavyweight matchups in the sport.
Head of Matchroom Sport, Hearn, had previously suggested that his client could explore a potential vacant IBF title shot against top-rated Filip Hrgovic of Croatia.
The IBF belt is currently held by unified champion Oleksandr Usyk, who also holds the WBO and WBA belts and the Ukrainian will put his three belts on the line against WBC champion Tyson Fury on February 17 in Riyadh.
Hearn believes that if an undisputed champion is crowned in the fight, the belts are likely to be seperated again because of the mandatory demands of the sanctioning bodies, especially that of the IBF.
In that scenario, Joshua facing off against Hrgovic for the IBF title could be appealing as it would afford the 34-year-old the chance to become a three-time heavyweight champion.
However, now Hearn feels that there would be too much momentum for Joshua vs Wilder in that time frame to consider 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.”
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