Eddie Hearn is open to the possibility of Anthony Joshua’s next fight being in New York against the American Jarrell Miller after conceding that a bout with Deontay Wilder in April is further away than ever.
Hearn said he had made an improved offer to Wilder’s manager, Shelly Finkel, following Joshua’s win over Alexander Povetkin at Wembley last month, but Finkel has refused to meet until after his man has fought Tyson Fury on 1 December.
“We sent them a better offer than last time – it is a percentage plus a guarantee plus a two-way rematch – but when I asked for a meeting they said no,” Hearn said. “It is frustrating because people will accuse us and Joshua of not wanting the fight but how can you not even have a meeting to discuss the biggest fight in world boxing? How? Even just to say no?
“When you want to buy a car that is 30 grand and you offer 20, the bloke doesn’t walk off, he has a chat. It is really frustrating. It puts a Wilder fight on April 13 in jeopardy because we will wait to December 1 but we need to be in a position where we are close.
“We will come to the fight with a contract that night and sign it then but if we wait until December to even start talking, then before long it will be Christmas, then January, and April is a non-starter.”
As things stand, a Wembley rematch with Dillian Whyte on 13 April looks the most likely option for Joshua’s 23rd bout as a professional but Hearn insisted he was looking at alternatives – including Miller, who fights the Pole Tomasz Adamek in Hearn’s first major US bill in Chicago on Saturday night.
“It doesn’t have to be Whyte,” Hearn said. “It could also be Miller in America, in New York. That would be a big fight over here. Our plan is still April 13 at Wembley but it isn’t looking good for Wilder, because how can it?
“We would keep Wembley for Whyte but if it was Miller it would be a similar time but in New York. Miller could sell tickets and believe me he is a handful. He doesn’t look it but he is a fit boy.”
