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Home » Exclusive: Two Joshua vs Wilder contract points raised from deal

Exclusive: Two Joshua vs Wilder contract points raised from deal

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As WBN exclusively revealed when updating late this week, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder could be standing on the verge of a massive agreement to square off this year. 

With paperwork exchanged, there are now just two sticking points standing between the two world heavyweight champions and a fight for all the divisional marbles.

Shelly Finkel informed World Boxing News on Thursday evening. He said they just needed contract clarification for a Joshua v Wilder unification in the UK to be signed off.

Finkel confirmed the paperwork Matchroom Boxing’s Barry Hearn was received three days later than planned on Monday. By Tuesday, had sent two points to be reaffirmed by Joshua’s handlers before making the fight official.

Joshua vs Wilder contract points

Giving an update on Thursday, Finkel explained that a roadblock had been hit due to Hearn’s failure to respond.

“We looked at the contract on Monday and raised two specific details in the paperwork that we needed clarification of,” Finkel told World Boxing News exclusively.

“It’s frustrating. As Eddie Hearn states in the media, we must be quick and sign the contract. But how can we sign if they don’t respond to our email and clarify our concerns?

“If we are being rushed, we really need to hear back from Barry to be able to complete things on our side,” he added.

While an official deal with Wilder is closer than ever, there’s also an already arranged mandatory fight with Alexander Povetkin for Joshua hanging in the balance for September.

Eddie Hearn

Promoter Eddie Hearn stated Team Wilder needed to be quick to stave off the chances of Joshua facing Povetkin instead. This further delay is not helping matters.

‘AJ’ was ordered by the WBA and WBO to battle Povetkin unless a deal could be reached with his arch-nemesis from across the Atlantic. However, unless these Wilder queries are answered, Finkel is unable to have pens put to paper.

Initially turning down 50 million dollars in favor of taking on Wilder in the UK, Joshua has come good on his eventual promise to put a package together. He seems to want an encounter against his most dangerous challenger.

All that’s missing is a signature from both fighters. This can only happen once Joshua and his team give their advances the relevant attention.

WBN is expecting further news over the weekend. However, WBN doesn’t see a Joshua vs Wilder deal being able to be completed this week due to time constraints.

On the other hand, Povetkin could be announced at any point. That’s if Hearn and Joshua make it their business to walk away from the Wilder clash until 2019.

Phil Jay is the Editor of World Boxing News. Follow on Twitter @PhilDJay.