Queensbury Promotions chief Frank Warren believes Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder won’t happen as ‘neither man will get the money they think they’re going to get’.
The rivals are expected to square off in January over in Saudi Arabia following Joshua’s knockout victory over Robert Helenius.
According to Eddie Hearn, the fight is ‘virtually signed’ with representatives of Saudi promotional outfit Skills Challenge in attendance for AJ’s last fight at the O2 Arena in order to finish off the final paperwork.
Hearn insists Joshua will face Wilder next followed by a blockbuster all-British showdown with Tyson Fury if successful.
However, promotional rival Warren has poured doubts over a clash with the ‘Bronze Bomber’.
Anthony Joshua defeated Robert Helenius last time out and is now expected to box Deontay Wilder next
Frank Warren anticipates that money will stop Joshua vs Wilder from taking place despite Eddie Hearn’s insistence that it is ‘virtually’ a done deal
‘I don’t know, and I’ve got to be honest. I don’t particularly care,’ Frank Warren told iFL TV when asked about whether Joshua will fight Wilder next.
‘It doesn’t bother me that much. You asked me last time we spoke what I thought about the [Joshua vs. Wilder] fight, and I gave you my views. If they make it, they make it. I don’t think they will make it.
‘I don’t think they make it and get the money they think they’re going to get; I really don’t. They were talking about making another fight for AJ in between, and I think they’re going to have a problem with that because I think the public will be expecting more.
‘That fight wasn’t going to happen in December, and we all know that. If you go check all the interviews that when you asked me about this, I’ve not changed. What I’ve said is what will happen. I said he [Joshua] won’t fight in December.
‘He won’t be fighting Deontay in December, and I’m right, and he’s not fighting Deontay in December. So he may as well have taken that fight at that time.
‘Nothing was done with [Francis] Ngannou, and nothing was that time was done with Dillian Whyte because Dillian Whyte was screaming for him to fight him. There was nothing signed.’
Joshua vs Wilder was initially slated for December but has since being pushed back by another month.
Despite Hearn’s insistence that Joshua will face Wilder next there were mixed messages from AJ, who claimed that he wanted to fight twice more this year in the immediate aftermath of his clash with Helenius.
Joshua and Wilder blockbuster showdown is slated for January over in Saudi Arabia