ANTHONY JOSHUA's long-overdue grudge match with Deontay Wilder has seemingly been pushed back until NEXT YEAR.
The former unified and WBC heavyweight champions were on course to settle their five-year-long feud in a lucrative Saudi showdown in December.
But with AJ just weeks away from renewing his rivalry with Dillian Whyte in a domestic dust-up, promoter Eddie Hearn reckons the multi-million-pound melee will instead take place in January 2024.
The Matchroom Boxing chief told Boxing News: "I think it will be January [Joshua vs Wilder]."
Saudi boxing chiefs had hoped to have Tyson Fury's protracted undisputed title fight with Oleksandr Usyk take place on the same night as Joshua vs Wilder.
But Hearn doubts that will come to fruition as the Gypsy King will meet former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in a controversial crossover clash in October.
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He continued: "I'm not sure whether Fury vs Usyk gets made [on the same card].
"I don't expect the Ngannou fight will be so taxing that he can't fight in January.
"But at the same time he would have done a training camp.
"And also you don't know if he wants the fight, which lots of people suggest he doesn't."
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Hearn laid the groundwork for Joshua's big-money brawl with Wilder several months ago but admits further negotiations are on hold until after his rematch with Whyte.
The 44-year-old said: "He said the finalisation of the Wilder fight is on hold until they [the Saudis] see what happen on August 12.
"And that's the risk that we're in. It's a big risk [facing Whyte], is it the right risk? We'll find out."
"AJ wanted a real fight, he wasn't motivated to take a lesser, smaller fight.
"But the Wilder fight will be dependent on victory at the O2 Arena on August 12."
Joshua, 33, recently said of his second clash with Brixton Body Snatcher Whyte: "It's a huge night for my career.
"I'm gonna be victorious, 100 per cent.That's my goal, that's my plan. And yeah, that's my motivation.
"So yeah, I'm looking forward to it. Respect to the team. May the best man win."
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