Boxing: Joshua v Klitschko fight is ON insists Hearn

Promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that the super fight between world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko WILL take place - but boxing fans will have to wait until the first half 2017 for the showdown to be inked into the diary.

In an exclusive interview with Yahoo Sport, Hearn has confirmed that he came ‘very close’ to striking a deal for Brit Joshua and former champion Klitschko to go head to head in what will be the biggest heavyweight title fight for many years, after lengthy negotiations earlier this month.

Yet uncertainty over where the WBA heavyweight title belt would end up after fallen champion Tyson Fury relinquished his titles for personal reasons forced Hearn to pull the plug on a Joshua v Klitschko fight until a later date.

Now the promoter is hoping he can strike a deal to stage the fight early in the New Year, with a stadium in the UK emerging as a possible venue for the clash.

“Joshua v Klitschko will happen, but we will just have to be a little but patient,” he told us. “That fight will be done, I have no doubt about it.

“We were very close to signing a deal to get it on for later this year and then there was discussions with the WBA over where their belt would go when Tyson Fury vacated it.

“In the end, we just ran out of time. It got to the point where we were six weeks away and then five weeks away from a potential fight date. It wasn’t long enough and it would not have done the event justice.

“A sporting occasion of this magnitude should not be scheduled with such a short space of time for it to gather in momentum and hopefully this minor delay will whet everyone’s appetite for when we announce the fight, hopefully early next year.

“Joshua v Klitschko is massive for boxing and sport, one of the most important heavyweight title fights in many years. We need to make sure we do it when the time is right for everyone and I am already looking forward to the prospect of it taking place in 2017.”

Hearn has yet to confirm an opponent for Joshua’s next defence of his world heavyweight title in Manchester on December 10th, with Eric Molina or David Price being lined up as possible opponents in a fight the promoter believes will still provide rich entertainment for the sell-out crowd.

Irish Olympic champion Katie Taylor will be part of the Joshua card after she turned professional under Hearn's guidance this week and is promising to put on a night to remember in Manchester. 

“There is always going to be some sense of anti-climax when you are close to a mega-fight like Joshua v Klitschko, but we need to keep some perspective here,” added Hearn.

“That Klitschko fight will happen very soon, but the card we are putting together for the December 10th show will be spectacular.

“If it is Eric Molina in the main event, this is a guy that pushed WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder last year and this will only be Joshua’s 18th professional fight. This will be a tough assignment for Joshua.

“Joshua is still a relatively young professional and while is he already world champion, he needs fights to get to where he wants to be and December 10th in Manchester is vital for him.

“In addition, Katie Taylor will be making her second appearance as a professional high up on the card and the interest we have had in seeing her in action since she confirmed she was turning professional has been fantastic.

“We will also have a handful other great fights lined up and let’s not forget, this is a world heavyweight title fight taking place in the UK so we should all enjoy it.”