Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn gives an update on unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua's next fight and even hinted at a possible U.S. debut.
During the January 18 Matchroom Boxing USA card at the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden, Hearn talked about the negotiation attempt for a fight against Deontay Wilder. Hearn had hoped to have Joshua and Wilder fight at Wembley Stadium in April to crown an undisputed champion, but as it stands, that fight appears to no longer be on the table for April.
There's also Dillian Whyte, one of the top contenders in the heavyweight division, who was also given an offer to fight Joshua. Whyte rejected the initial offer, saying the offer was too low for his liking.
"There's radio silence from Wilder. Tyson Fury, we're talking. Dillian Whyte, we're talking. Whyte has his price tag. Anthony's got the price tag that he wants to pay. It's a voluntary shot for Dillian Whyte," Hearn said.
-- @EddieHearn Gives An Update On @AnthonyFJoshua's Next Opponent -- pic.twitter.com/ZhJTGDYSPP
— DAZN USA (@DAZN_USA) January 19, 2019
But if Joshua is unable to secure an opponent for his scheduled date at Wembley, then Hearn is hoping to send Joshua to the United States for his next title defense. As for the venue and opponent of a potential U.S. debut for Joshua, Hearn said he could face undefeated contender Jarrell Miller in June at Madison Square Garden, believing that Joshua should fight in America in order to truly become a global star.
"Part of me wants to see Anthony Joshua fight in the states. Jarrell 'Big Baby' Miller is creeping into the top five right now. He's making some noise in America. He's been on DAZN for a while. To be a global star, at some point you have to fight in America and to see Anthony Joshua fill up Madison Square Garden with 21,000 or 22,000 people, that's a real statement of intent for a world heavyweight champion. We'll see what happens. I think you'll get a decision next week. For me, if he can't get Wilder or Fury or Dillian, he must come to America and Jarrell would be at the front of that group. Don't be surprised if you see Anthony Joshua on DAZN in June against 'Big Baby' Miller in this very building. He's not Anthony Joshua's first choice, but I know he's ready and I know he's one of the few guys who won't outprice himself for the fight. He believes he can beat Anthony Joshua and for a unified heavyweight champion, a Brit, to come to New York and beat a New Yorker in his backyard at this amazing place, it's a hell of a statement. Joshua's 100 percent focus is to fight Deontay Wilder. If [Wilder] doesn't want it, we'll look at other options," Hearn said.
Regardless of when and where Joshua fights next, it's highly likely that his fight will be streamed on DAZN, marking the second time the undefeated heavyweight champion fights on the streaming platform.
