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Eddie Hearn is set to jet to New York for talks with Deontay Wilder as a long-awaited clash with Anthony Joshua moves ever closer.
The Matchroom boss will meet with Al Haymon and Shelly Finkel, the two main advisors to WBC heavyweight title holder Wilder, on Thursday to discuss the possibility of a summer unification blockbuster with WBA, IBO and WBO champ Joshua.
It has been suggested that Hearn made Wilder and his team an £8.8m offer to fight Joshua at Wembley this September but has received no counter-offer and now wants to meet face-to-face in an attempt to get the deal moving.
Show all 8 1 /8Britain's current boxing world champions Britain's current boxing world champions Britain's current boxing world champions
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Britain's current boxing world champions Tyson Fury WBC heavyweight
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Britain's current boxing world champions Anthony Joshua IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight
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Britain's current boxing world champions Callum Smith WBA super middleweight (Super)
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Britain's current boxing world champions Billy Joe Saunders WBO super middleweight
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Britain's current boxing world champions Josh Taylor WBA and IBF light welterweight
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Britain's current boxing world champions Terri Harper IBF super featherweight
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Britain's current boxing world champions Josh Warrington IBF featherweight
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“We will sit down and have some scrambled eggs and smoked salmon,” Hearn said. “I don't think they like me and I think they will be quite aggressive but I'll just tell them how it is.
“A meeting like this is what we need. We have our thoughts on how the deal should work. We haven't had any offers from them but I've asked for a meeting and they've accepted that.
"This fight shouldn't be difficult to make and if everyone puts egos aside we can make the biggest fight in world boxing.”
Joshua has been ordered by the WBA to fight mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin before any meeting with American Wilder but the Brit has been quite clear about who he would prefer to face.
"Anthony's made it clear - that's the fight he wants next, the Deontay Wilder fight," Hearn said last week. "With these mandatories coming up as well, Povetkin, and the possible IBF mandatory, I've said before there's not many opportunities to make an undisputed fight. Really the focus is for us to make the Deontay Wilder fight next.
Show all 13 1 /13Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 1 Cagey. Very cagey. Joshua probably just edged that one. He held the centre of the ring very well but there was not too much to note about that round really. Concentration all over Joshua's face.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 2 Another really close round. Both men went for a few more shots. Joshua got a couple through the gate and Parker was going for a few body shots. Still very cagey.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 3 The crowd has quietened slightly this round as they look to be given something to cheer about. Joshua twice obliges with shots at Parker up against the ropes. There is an accidental head clash that throws the Briton slightly towards the end of the round that the referee warns both about but Joshua is still on top. Just.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 4 A big left jab from Joshua looked like it hurt Parker briefly there as Joshua holds the centre of the ring and pushed his rival into the ropes. Joshua catches him again with another left hook and a third to finish the round. He's eased into this one but looks comfortable. There is swelling around Parker's left eye now too.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 5 Parker is been hurt by yet another left at the start of this round. He's trying to lure Joshua in and attack but he finally finds success with it. A flurry of punches hurries Joshua into the corner and another shot is landed.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 6 Both men go at it here and swing wildly! They take shots and both land them. The referee breaks it up and the crowd come alive! Parker lands a couple more and he looks dangerous. Joshua needs to stem this momentum from the Kiwi.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 7 A left jab catches Joshua and Parker is a tad stunned. The two lock up and Parker snatches a few body shots which Joshua takes exception to and aims a wild uppercut his way after the referee calls the break. Parker gives AJ a wry smile as the bell rings.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 8 Parker continues to go in low and the referee doesn't like it, but Parker won't like what's coming next as Joshua lands a big left and wraps the Kiwi up against the ropes as he ducks into him. He can't quiet capitalise but he is back on top as the bell brings the round to an end.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 9 Joshua predicted Parker would tire in the ninth or 10th and he could be right. He lands a few shots before complaining about Parker's head use. There is a brief pause as Joshua gets his gloves re-taped after it comes loose and Parker gets a bit lively after, but the bell calls an end to the round just as it starts to spice up.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 10 Parker's been cut above his left eye and Joshua, like a shark, goes straight to work on it. The crowd sense it too but Parker sees it off for now. Joshua has him up against the ropes and swings with a wild left that would have surely ended it there and then. Parker survives.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 11 Only a knockout will do for Parker so expect him to really go for it. But he doesn't really and Joshua keeps him at distance. Parker keeps coming but the two get wrapped up and Joshua lands an uppercut and another jab. A left seems to wobble Parker but a body shot by the Kiwi immediately hurts AJ. A good finish to the round.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 12 Only a knockout will do for Parker. Joshua just needs to survive, keep his distance. A body shot from Joshua wakes up the crowd and another jab draws more cheers but there is nothing more to capitalise on. That’s it, some boos from the crowd as Joshua is taken the distance for the first time in his career.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round It’s a convincing victory for Joshua from all three of our judges, with Luke Brown only giving Parker one round and both Jack Austin and Jack de Menezes handing the New Zealand three. It wasn’t Joshua’s most entertaining fight of his career, or his most dominant, but as wins go that one was pretty regulatory.
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"If not, it has to be the one after, and we'll have to deal with a mandatory in the meantime. It could be Alexander Povetkin.
"Generally from AJ's side, from our side, from the team's side, the Wilder fight is one we have no problems with at all. We've just got to find the right deal."
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