By Terence Dooley
Eddie Hearn believes that IBF World, WBA Super World and IBO heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua (19-0, 19 KOs) will meet WBC holder Deontay Wilder (38-0, 37 KOs) next summer as long as both men continue to rack up wins.
Joshua is mooted to meet his IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev (25-1, 13 stoppages) later this year, with Cardiff’s outdoor Principality Stadium a frontrunner for the fight, which is pencilled in for October 28 according to Sky Sports.
Joshua has also been ordered to defend his WBA belt against Luiz Ortiz (27-0, 23 early), so will have to negotiate an extension with them in a bid to hold on to both titles. Hearn, though, has told Sky that they have a clear route in mind and that it will lead to a showdown with American rival Wilder.
“Luis Ortiz, the WBA have just called a mandatory on AJ for him,” stated Hearn. “We're going to have to fight Luis Ortiz after Kubrat Pulev. Deontay Wilder wants to fight, so we're mapping things out nicely.
“In an ideal world right now, we're looking at Pulev, Ortiz, and then Deontay Wilder next summer. Things are looking good, although the Klitschko retirement was a little bit disappointing for fight fans, we know that AJ has got a long career ahead of him.”
Once the date and venue are firmed up, the 27-year-old will knuckle down for his first training camp since annexing the WBA and IBO titles courtesy of his off-the-canvas 11th-round KO win over Klitschko, who announced his retirement last week.
“We've got to map it out effectively,” added Hearn. “He's just having his last little bit of time in the sun right now and then camp starts next week.”
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