Deontay Wilder is set to spend years in the world heavyweight title wilderness according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
Tyson Fury has “moved on” from a trilogy fight against ‘The Bronze Bomber’ after the respective camps were unable to get the bout on before the end of 2020.
Now ‘The Gypsy King’ will instead fight another opponent in London on Saturday December 5. The main contenders at this stage are French veteran Carlos Takam (39-5-1) and unbeaten German Agit Kabayel (20-0).
Hearn has been flummoxed by the silence from Wilder as his chance to immediately get back into the world title reckoning disappeared. He had lost his WBC belt to Fury in that rematch against Fury in February 2020.
He says that silence appears to be in stark comparison to the way Anthony Joshua reacted to his defeat by Andy Ruiz Jr in June 2019. Joshua pushed hard for the immediate rematch and regained his titles in December 2019.
Hearn baffled by Wilder situation
Hearn told the Ak And Barak Show on DAZN: “When Anthony Joshua lost to Andy Ruiz, the only thing he ever wanted to do, the only thing he ever wanted to talk about, was winning that rematch and getting that rematch.
“For three or four months that became my obsession, to deliver that rematch for AJ.
“With Deontay Wilder, I have zero clue what is happening in his camp, something doesn’t make sense.
“In a case this big, the only fight for Wilder is the rematch. If he doesn’t rematch Tyson Fury, he will not get another shot at the world heavyweight title for years. Unless someone gives him a voluntary defence. Who knows if that’s gonna happen.”
Hearn says Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua will happen twice in 2021, with the first bout potentially in April. That means Wilder will have to wait until at least 2022 for another title shot.
“Once 2021 starts, Wilder will not be in the conversation because Tyson Fury will be fighting Anthony Joshua twice in 2021.
“I cannot see any way Fury-Joshua will not happen in April 21. The only thing we are working on is broadcast rights.
“Both Fury and Joshua’s teams are good with it. Both sides think that they will win. This is the only fight to make in 2021, and it will be the biggest fight not only in British boxing, but in world boxing.
“I want AJ to become the undisputed world champion, and we are very close to making this happen.”
