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Eddie Hearn: If Anthony Joshua hurts Deontay Wilder, it will all be over

Fighters Network
26
Mar

Deontay Wilder continues to bang the drum for a superfight against Anthony Joshua.

The Brit has his hands full with Joseph Parker on Saturday in Cardiff, Wales, where the pair will meet for the unified heavyweight championship (Showtime, 5 p.m. ET).

Assuming Joshua emerges victorious, as expected, talk will once again turn to Wilder in perhaps the biggest fight that can be made in boxing.

Wilder proved he could absorb some big shots in his thrilling victory over Luis Ortiz earlier this month, but Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, isn’t so sure the WBC heavyweight titleholder would be able to sustain similar punches from his fighter.



“He didn’t watch the Wilder fight and say ‘I’ve seen weaknesses.’ Everybody sees the weaknesses, but this is the first time he’s ever been hit on the chin by someone who can crack,” Hearn noted. “People have sparred him in the U.K., he’s been hurt multiple times in the gym. People now say ‘Wilder’s got no chin.’ Not true.

“People said after the [Wladimir] Klitschko fight, ‘Joshua’s got no chin.’ Not true. Watch the shots that he took. And watch the shots Wilder took, too.”

If and when Joshua finally meets Wilder, no one is counting on the 12-round bout going the distance. They’re both fearsome punchers, and when it comes to the heavyweights, one punch can always end matters. Wilder appears to be the biggest puncher in the sport, so despite his technical deficiencies, Joshua would no doubt be in genuine danger all fight.

But Wilder must avoid Joshua’s power shots first, all it could all be over this time, because if you ask Hearn, the American won’t be able to repeat his heroics from the Ortiz bout.

“The difference is you’re not talking about an old man in Anthony Joshua, you’re talking about someone who when you’re hurt, he’s going to pounce on you and you’re going to get hit by 20 shots you don’t even see coming,” Hearn said. “And that’s the difference and it will be over. But it’s a brilliant fight. You might to watch through your fingers because Joshua is completely fearless.

“And I think he’s more fearless than Wilder, but Wilder does have that element in him as well. So it’s going to be incredible.”

Mike Coppinger is the Senior Writer for RingTV.com. Follow him on Twitter: @MikeCoppinger

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