Eddie Hearn working on deal to sign Deontay Wilder to Matchroom ahead of superfight with Anthony Joshua

The WBC champion is due in Cardiff this week to commentate on Joshua's unification clash with Joseph Parker at the Principality Stadium

What could be: Deontay Wilder and Eddie Hearn (Independent)

Eddie Hearn is working on a stunning deal to sign world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder to his Matchroom stable with a view to arranging an Anthony Joshua superfight before Christmas.

The WBC champion was due in Cardiff this week to commentate on Joshua's unification clash with Joseph Parker at the Principality Stadium.

Wilder is hoping to secure a fight with whoever wins in the Welsh capital as he bids to add the remaining three heavyweight belts, the IBF, WBA and WBO, to his collection.

But it has now been confirmed that the undefeated Alabama puncher has decided against crossing the Atlantic and will instead watch the fight from home, much to Hearn's annoyance.

The Matchroom boss believes Wilder is being badly advised but that will not stop him from offering the 32-year-old a contract.

Hearn said: “I think that's a real possibility and it's something we are looking at.

“Imagine how big Deontay Wilder would be if he signed for us, in the heavyweight mix that we've got.

“Tony Bellew against David Haye, Joshua, Dillian Whyte. If I was Deontay Wilder, how could I not think that signing with us was a good idea?

“We've got a foot in with American partners and we work with everybody. I could pay him probably double his highest ever purse to face Whyte and then I could set up the Joshua fight very easily. Why wouldn't you do that?

“And contractually he can do it because he doesn't have a promotional agreement with anyone at the moment.”

Wilder had to use all of his experience to beat Ortiz (Getty)

Wilder banked a career-high purse of around £1.5m for his part in March's victory over Luis Ortiz in March but rejected the chance to earn double that by facing Dillian Whyte in 2017.

The Brixton man cemented his place atop the WBC rankings by knocking out the previously undefeated Lucas Browne at the weekend and Hearn hopes Wilder may now take the money to face Whyte this summer.

The winner of that contest, which is being lined up for June at O2 Arena, would then go on to a December showdown with Joshua, providing he comes through unscathed against Parker.

And Hearn believes he would be able to make that into the richest heavyweight fight in history should both Wilder and Joshua be part of his promotional stable.

Hearn wants to recruit Wilder (Getty)

Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson combined to generate a fight worth £73m when they tangled in Memphis in 2002. It remains the richest heavyweight fight of them all and only events involving Floyd Mayweather Jr have bettered it since.

But Hearn said: “Of course it depends on the pay-per-view buys, but I would hope that a fight between Joshua and Wilder generates over £100m.

“I think it would generate more than Tyson against Lennox did.

“So Deontay, come to the party and we will double, triple, quadruple your pay days.”