Eddie Hearn, promoter for IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (21-0, 20 KOs), has continued his negotiations to finalize a potential unification showdown with WBC champion Deontay Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs).

The talks became more serious after Wilder and his team sent over a guaranteed offer of $50 million to Joshua to stage the fight.

Joshua, who already held three belts, won a twelve round decision over Joseph Parker in March to pick up the WBO title.

Hearn is planning to meet with Joshua later this week to discuss things further.

“The major thing for AJ is planning his next fight, I was just on the phone to him a minute ago, we’re meeting up this week,” Hearn told talkSPORT’s Fight Night podcast.

“We have to start making some decisions. We know the fights that are on the table. Conversations are ongoing with Wilder, AJ really wants to fight in the UK next but obviously it is a big opportunity to fight Wilder in America and it is something we are considering strongly.It’s just a case really of taking our time and making the right decisions. We know we have got a great opportunity to try and become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and he would love to do it in the UK but we have had an offer that is of interest to us."

If a deal is reached, the contest will take place in the fall.

Hearn indicates that a UK location would send the contest to a date in September.

And a venue in the United States would send the fight to a date in November.

The British promoter believes the contest is going to happen - with WBA mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin already set down as Joshua's backup plan.

“We have to explore it more, which we have been doing over the last week or so. The communication is back-and-forth, which is good news. We are talking regularly, they are answering our questions now and I’m hopeful that fight can get over the line," Hearn said.

“If it’s in the UK, it will be in September and if it is in Vegas or New York it will probably be more like November. I think it will be his next one.”