THE Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko showdown qualifies as a mega-fight. It is a meaningful heavyweight contest contest and will sell a record-equalling 90,000 seats at Wembley Stadium in London on April 29, as well as unifying the IBF and WBA world titles.
A sign of its significance is the major US television networks, Showtime and HBO, vying to screen it. โItโs a bit awkward because weโre with Showtime, theyโre with HBO, itโs just trying to find an amicable solution. Weโre nearly there,โ Joshuaโs promoter Eddie Hearn told Boxing News. โOur loyalties are with Showtime with the Anthony Joshua brand and Klitschkoโs loyalties are with HBO. You kind of want to give everybody a fair crack of the whip to find a solution.โ
The American broadcaster is expected to be decided soon. Thereโs no guarantee but itโs possible that Klitschko and Joshua could fight twice. โIf itโs great fight and it makes sense, weโll look to do it again. But weโre looking at hopefully winning and moving on hopefully into unifications,โ Hearn continued.
That makes WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder a highly appealing opponent for Joshua after Klitschko. โThatโs the number one target, although I thought his numbers were really disappointing on Fox. He went on free to air,โ Hearn said. โDeontay Wilder should be a 12 month project that you work on to increase the profile. Heโs a very likeable, athletic, American heavyweight world champion. Itโs not hard. But you need a vehicle behind him. Itโs hard work but itโs easy work. Itโs man power and just throwing everything at it. Look at Joshuaโs brand, itโs sensational, down to us [Matchroom], down to Freddie [Cunningham, Joshuaโs manager] and the boys, Sky of course, down to Joshua. Weโre pushing and pushing and pushing. Itโs been four years to get to this stage and everythingโs been impeccable.โ
Wilder has moved around different television broadcasters and is yet to have a signature win. In contrast Hearn points out, โJoshuaโs fighting Klitschko in his 19th fight, a unification fight. Wilderโs had 38 fights, something like that… He can punch, he can definitely punch. Him and Joshua would be a great fight.
Pondering whether Joshua, who took a press tour to America earlier this year, will become more popular in the USA than Wilder, added, โSoon he will be. And it might be after the Klitschko fight.โ