Eddie Hearn reacts to Deontay Wilder suddenly wanting to fight Dillian Whyte if he can’t get Tyson Fury next, questions why he doesn’t want Anthony Joshua

Eddie Hearn is confused by Deontay Wilder naming Dillian Whyte as the man he wants to fight next, if his trilogy with Tyson Fury doesn’t materialise.

The former WBC heavyweight champion was dethroned by Britain’s ‘Gypsy King’ back in February, but immediately activated his contractual clause to force a third fight between them.

Wilder’s first choice is to face Fury again, but Whyte is a fight he also wants badlyRyan Hafey/PBC

Following several delays, Fury’s camp now claim that contract has expired and so they intend to move on and fight Anthony Joshua next in 2021.

However, Wilder’s team have now initiated the dispute resolution provision in the contract to have a judge settle the matter through mediation and then binding arbitration.

Should this not be ruled in his favour, Wilder said on the Last Stand Podcast: “Dillian Whyte, I want Dillian Whyte and I want Dillian Whyte.

Fury is the WBC and Ring Magazine championAFP or licensors

“The dude is obsessed with me, man.

“It feels like he acting like we went together and then we had a bad break up which we can’t get over.

“Maybe I have some good p**** or something, I don’t know? No homo.

“He always tried to come out with lies and all this. I’m the man that he wants to be, I’m the man that a lot of these fighters want to be.”

Whyte must first face Povetkin in a rematch, likely in JanuaryMark Robinson/Matchroom

Prior to his defeat to Alexander Povetkin back in August, Whyte was the WBC mandatory challenger.

For two years he had been calling for a fight with Wilder, but nothing ever materialised.

His promoter Hearn reacted to Wilder’s new comments by telling iFL TV: “That’s convenient of him, Dillian Whyte’s only wanted to box him for ten years.

“Listen, Dillian Whyte has got the fight of his life against Alexander Povetkin first.

“You know what’s weird? I saw that list, he didn’t mention AJ, did he?

Anthony Joshua is the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight championGetty Images - Getty

“I mean, you’ve got the unified world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, and he still don’t wanna fight him.

“Anyway, we’ll move on from that.

“Dillian Whyte against Deontay Wilder is a really big fight, but Dillian’s got bigger fish to try at the moment.

“He’s got to beat Alexander Povetkin and then he wants to fight for the world title.”

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