ANTHONY JOSHUA is jetting around the US as fans await an announcement on a fight with Deontay Wilder.
The British WBO, IBF and WBA title holder arrived in Los Angeles on Tuesday with members of his entourage.
Alongside a photo posted on Instagram showing manager Freddie Cunningham, PR man Andy Bell and others boarding a private jet, Joshua commented “work work work”. [One of Joshua’s main sponsors is US sportswear brand Under Armour.]
However, sharing the same image, Cunningham suggested the group’s trip was for recreational purposes.
The manager said they were on their way to San Francisco watch Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors’ playoff game with the Houston Rockets.
Promoter Eddie Hearn, who is not in the image, told the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday that a decision on the staging of the Wilder fight will be made in the next three weeks, although a UK showdown is preferred.
Wilder, who holds the WBC title, in April made the unusual move of emailing Joshua directly to insist his backers had the money – worth £35.9million – for a bout which could take place later this year.
However Hearn said his client was prepared to take a pay cut of more than £7million to fight in front of a home crowd.
Wembley, Twickenham and the Olympic Stadium have been tipped as venues for a possible showdown in September.
“One thing is for absolute certain, AJ wants Wilder next,” Hearn told the Telegraph.
“He’s made that clear. He also feels though, after talking to Rob McCracken, his trainer and manager, that this is a fight that should be delivered in the UK. One for the fans and two, he feels like he’s earned that right.”
With the assist @StephenCurry30@warriorspic.twitter.com/hpvkTZPZGB
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyfjoshua) May 23, 2018
Hearn said talks were also ongoing over a mandatory WBA title fight with Russian boxer Alexander Povetkin.
Should the Wilder fight not go ahead, a bout with Povetkin is “almost certain”, the promoter said.
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