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London could stage Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder fight this year

Back with a bang | Joshua could return to London for his heavyweight unification fight: Getty Images
Back with a bang | Joshua could return to London for his heavyweight unification fight: Getty Images

London could potentially host a £35.9million heavyweight unification fight between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder later this year.

Last night, WBC champion Wilder posted a video on Twitter claiming he is offering $50m (£35.9m) to face Joshua, who boasts the WBO, IBA and WBF belts, and putting a time limit of just 24 hours for the Londoner to agree a deal.

Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn want to “see the money” before any fight is agreed and are both keen for the contest to take place in Joshua’s home city, although Las Vegas is the preference of Wilder’s team.

Hearn will hold talks with Wilder’s camp tomorrow in the United States over the possibility of staging the fight later this year, potentially as early as September. But at this stage he remains sceptical. Hearn said: “It’s a great move from Deontay and it makes everyone say, ‘you’ve got to take the fight now’.

“We really want to do the fight in the UK because we’ve built something special here but, if there’s substantial money to do it elsewhere, we will definitely look at it. In my opinion, it’s got to be in the UK or possibly Vegas.

“I spoke to AJ, he knows the situation but we want to know if it’s real. We want to see the money and know where it is. There’s a real strong chance this fight could happen. We’re not looking to be difficult. We’re definitely interested to look at those numbers.”

(PA)
(PA)

The Watford-born Joshua has not fought in London since defeating Wladimir Klitschko in 11 rounds at Wembley Stadium in April last year.