EDDIE HEARN has CONFIRMED sensational talks for a four-man heavyweight boxing tournament in the Middle East are in progress.
Earlier this month reports suggested discussions had been held over the possibility of Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder fighting on the same night in Saudi Arabia.
But now Hearn has confirmed these talks are true with the possibility that the fights could happen on the SAME night.
Hearn told IFLTV: “There have definitely been conversations that have taken place where people would like to host [Tyson] Fury against [Oleksansdr] Usyk and AJ against [Deontay] Wilder on the same night.
“It will cost a lot of money, but it would be our pick, and we will have those conversations. Our focus is to get that big mega-fight in December over the line.
“There is no official decision in terms of whether AJ will fight in July. Some of that may come around the deal or the decision or the completion of that fight in December.
READ MORE IN BOXING
“I would quite like to see him fight. I think he would like to fight in July, but right now, he’s not in camp for a July fight.”
The tournament could have a huge purse of £325million.
Wilder’s trainer Malik Scott also confirmed the news, telling IFLTV: “I can say that those rumours are true, negotiations are going on and big fights are gonna be happening.
“Not just with us, with a lot of top heavyweights.”
Most read in Boxing
Wilder, 37, has not been in action since October when he knocked out Robert Helenius in round one of his comeback bout.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
AJ beat Jermaine Franklin at the start of April, whereas both Usyk and Fury saw negotiations over an undisputed heavyweight title fight collapse.
However, Fury has denied such claims, saying on his Instagram story: “I can confirm that these rumours are absolute BS!”
The Gypsy King’s denial led to an X-rated reaction from Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk, who declared: “He’s s***ing his pants again.”
TalkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan stated Joshua’s next fight being in December could be an indication of the four-man contest.
He said: “There’s a lingering observation and, I suppose rumour, that’s seeded I think in some substance – that there is a series of fights being arranged in the Middle East that involve Fury, Usyk, Joshua and Wilder.
“Three fights being made which is Fury vs Usyk, Wilder vs Joshua and the two winners of those fights meeting again in the Middle East for the ultimate showdown.
“That would align with the dynamic of the reasons why Anthony Joshua isn’t fighting until December.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
