By Lem Satterfield
Deontay Wilder will respond to an updated and offered two-fight unification deal to face 6-foot-6 IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO counterpart Anthony Joshua after the 6-foot-7 Bronze Bomber scores his eighth straight knockout in as many defenses against 6-foot-9 lineal champion Tyson Fury on December 1 at The Staples Center in Los Angeles on Showtime Pay-Per-View (9 p.m ET/ 6 p. ET), Wilder’s co-manager, Shelly Finkel, informed BoxingScene.com.
Negotiations between the 29-year-old Joshua (22-0, 21 KOs) and Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs), who holds the WBC heavyweight crown, failed in June - after which a fight was quickly made with Joshua’s 30-year-old English countryman Fury (27-0, 19 KOs).
Among Wilder’s major sticking points with the contract offered by promoter Eddie Hearn, after accepting all of Joshua’s other terms, was a one-way rematch clause favoring Joshua in the event Wilder won the fight.
But Hearn told Sky Sports recently that he is now offering Wilder a two-fight deal. The first bout would be on April 13th at Wembley Stadium in London, and the second, if Wilder wins, would be in the United States.
“My reply to Eddie is at present we are only interested in the Tyson Fury fight,” said Finkel in a text to BoxingScene.com. “After Deontay knocks out Fury, we are open to hear what Eddie has to offer.”
A bout between the 33-year-old Wilder and Joshua would yield one of boxing’s most lucrative matchups and the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000.