Eddie Hearn reveals the biggest fight that got ducked

Boxing has always been at its best and most entertaining when the best fight the best, but occasionally, there are great fights that are never made for a variety of reasons. When speaking to IFLTV, Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn was asked what was the biggest fight he tried to make, but the other side completely ducked it. It’s not Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury.

Anthony Joshua – Eddie Hearn opens up on the fight that got away

When asked what the biggest fight was that he tried to make, but the other side completely ducked it:

“Joshua-Wilder,” said Hearn. “We threw mad money at Wilder to take that fight, Al Haymon, everybody, DAZN, and we couldn’t get it over the line,”added Hearn. 

When asked if Wilder or his team ducked the fight, The Matchroom Sport Chairman said:

“No, I don’t think the fighter ever ducks the fight. I just think we didn’t get on. Mainly Haymon (ducked it). Our offer for that fight was huge,” added Hearn.

Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder

Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder is a fight long rumoured and highly anticipated since both held world titles. It appeared we would finally get it in 2023, but those hopes were extinguished when Joseph Parker defeated Wilder, while on the same card, AJ defeated Wallin.

Wilder did return to winning ways last time out, stopping Tyrrell Anthony Herndon, but question marks still remain over what he has left. 

Joshua was brutally stopped by Daniel Dubois in 2024, with many speculating that it could be the end of AJ. Eddie Hearn has recently teased big plans for Joshua:

Discussing his schedule from January and teasing the plans for Anthony Joshua, Hearn said:

“I’m looking at my schedule now, from January. It’s going to be better than I’ve ever done on DAZN before. Turki’s obviously in the mood to do business.

“I was in Dubai with AJ, and then just a really impromptu trip where I knew that he was in Riyadh, and just jumped on a plane, and said, ‘Look, I’ll come see you.’

“A partnership with Matchroom that will be extended, but also just obviously talks of various different fights. You know, a lot of talks around AJ, of course. I’m not, you know…I’m not going to go into it too deep because I don’t want to jinx it, but big plans for Anthony Joshua.”