Eddie Hearn anticipates Anthony Joshua approaching his showdown with Deontay Wilder like a boxer-puncher.

Joshua’s promoter understands as well as anyone that aggressively attempting to take out Wilder, while probably very entertaining, would be an extremely dangerous strategy against one of the most pulverizing punchers in boxing history. First, of course, Hearn hopes Saudi investors will enable him and Wilder’s handlers to close a deal for what would be a fascinating fight between a pair of hard-hitting former heavyweight champions.

Hearn disclosed during a post-fight press conference Saturday night in London that Joshua-Wilder would take place in January in Saudi Arabia if a deal can be consummated. Matchroom Boxing’s chairman is confident that his British superstar can beat Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) based on how the former IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO champion obliterated Robert Helenius with a single right hand in the seventh round at O2 Arena.

“I think that he can beat Deontay Wilder comfortably, but he could also get beat by Deontay Wilder,” Hearn said. “I don’t think necessarily, I mean, the good thing is he got – what was it – seven rounds in against a tall opponent who can punch a bit with the back hand? I think it’s difficult to replicate certainly the power of Deontay Wilder. But I’ve always felt that AJ can outbox Deontay Wilder. But also, I prefer him to box tentatively than his old style against Deontay Wilder. I know he can beat him with that style as well, but I would like to see him box Deontay Wilder, try and break him down. If he lands the right hand on Wilder like that, the fight’s over. And vice versa, if Wilder lands a right hand – that’s why it’s one of the best fights in boxing.”

However their fight might unfold, Hearn expects that the 37-year-old Wilder will bring out the best boxing Joshua has left at this stage of his career. That wasn’t exactly the case, according to Hearn, during the 18-plus rounds in which Joshua (26-3, 23 KOs) shared the ring with Jermaine Franklin (22-2, 14 KOs) and Helenius (32-5, 21 KOs) over the past four months.

The 33-year-old Joshua tried his best to employ the techniques new trainer Derrick James taught him during those two fights. He defeated Franklin by unanimous decision April 1 at O2 Arena and outboxed Helenius before blasting his 6-foot-6, 243-pound opponent with a picture-perfect right hand Saturday night.

“You’re not really gonna see the best of AJ in fights against Franklin and Helenius,” Hearn said. “It’s why he chose Dillian Whyte, because it was a fight that he actually wanted and he could get up for. So, this week’s been a complete nightmare and, you know, honestly, if he would’ve just boxed like that for another six rounds and just won on points, I know people would’ve been disappointed. But I would’ve just gone, ‘Thank God.’ But just pleased that he got the showroom knockout.”

Finland’s Helenius (32-5, 21 KOs) replaced London’s Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs) on less than one week’s notice because the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association detected “adverse analytical findings” in performance-enhancing drug tests taken by Whyte during training camp. The 39-year-old Helenius, who was knocked out by Wilder late in the first round last October 15 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, fought for the second time in only eight days against Joshua.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.