Hearn reveals Anthony Joshua has had “talks” over Deontay Wilder grudge match as return edges closer to being finalised

EDDIE HEARN has revealed talks over a showdown between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder are ongoing.

The long-awaited grudge match is closer than it’s been since the duo held all the heavyweight marbles four years ago.

Anthony Joshua was on course to face Deontay Wilder in 2018GETTY

But the pair’s long-awaited showdown is seemingly closer than everGETTY

MATCHROOM BOXINGPromoter Eddie Hearn has revealed talks over the grudge match are still ongoing[/caption]

Hearn reached out to Wilder’s representatives ahead of Joshua’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in August to gauge their interest in setting up the fight and is still in contact with them over the lucrative bout.

The Matchroom Boxing chief told iFL TV: “The communication lines are good now, between me and Shelly Finkel [Wilder’s manager].

“We’ve had a lot of talks, a lot of chats [but] until the training team in confirmed for AJ, we really won’t make any opponent selection because we want the input of a trainer.

“We’ve got three or four guys that we are talking to and ready to try and make a move for.

“But at the end of the day, we’ve got to make sure that the training team are comfortable with that.”

Former long-reigning WBC champion Wilder was recently ordered to face ex-unified king Andy Ruiz Jr in a final eliminator by the Mexican sanctioning boy,

And Hearn expects The Bronze Bomber to fight the trimmed-down Ruiz next.

He continued: “I’m guessing that is what he is going to do next.

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“At the same time, we’d like Dillian Whyte to fight Deontay Wilder in the interim or AJ in the summer.

“We will have to see but it looks like Wilder will fight Ruiz and AJ will fight at the end of March/April and Dillian Whyte may fight as well.

“And I think they’re all going to come together in the summer.”

Joshua, 33, is confident he’ll share the ring with Wilder before it’s all said and done, telling GQ: “Let’s look to the future.

Anthony Joshua is set to return to the ring in MarchGETTY

“It will definitely happen.

“We’re in the same division, we’re in the same era, that means the fight has to happen.

“2023 is looming, it’s a big year for boxing, and that fight will definitely happen.”

AJ hasn’t set foot in the ring since his second successive defeat to Usyk but is planning to return in late March.