Hearn: Saudis asked Joshua not to fight in summer

August 12 in London Anthony Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs) will face Dillian Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs). Eddie Hearn claims that if he loses to the Body Snatcher, AJ could lose an important fight with Deontay Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) in Saudi Arabia.

“I don’t know how the fight with White will end, but we have been categorically told that the deal that is on the table [for the fight with Wilder] is void if Joshua loses to White. They [the Saudis] didn't want this fight, they almost asked us not to fight in the summer because AJ doesn't want this fight because he already has a fight in December. But Anthony said, "No, I want to fight," Hearn said in a talkSPORT interview.

According to unofficial data, Joshua's fee for the fight with Wilder, which will take place in December or January, should be $60 million.