Eddie Hearn and Deontay Wilder have settled their differences after six years of dispute.
The duo have been taunting and feuding with each other since 2018, largely over their different positions during a showdown between the “Bronze Bomber” and promoter fighter Anthony Joshua.
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The American heavyweight claimed Hearn was the reason the clash with Joshua failed during their turbulent relationship, with AJ rejecting a $50million offer. [£40m] from Wilder’s team in 2018.
But Wilder has now announced a shock move by teaming up with Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing for a 5v5 card on June 1, where he will touch gloves with Frank Warren’s competitor Zhilei Zhang.
He explained how they learned to work together in an interview with The Stomping Ground, saying: “Like I said, business is business, but now we see each other all the time.
“When you start talking to someone over and over again, even if you have differences, you learn to work together and coexist.
“You understand a little more, I know how he is and how I stand by his side!
“And he knows what he thinks of me. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be polite when we see each other, we’re still human beings.”
Hearn and Wilder have had a much closer relationship since the former WBC champion was set to face Joshua this year, with a signed deal in place.
But his loss to Joseph Parker in December 2023 derailed the showdown, but the 38-year-old hopes a victory on ‘Big Bang’ can revive his hopes of facing Joshua.
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Hearn joked that the pair are now “best friends” following the recent deal and expects him to score a comeback victory.
“He likes me, we’re best friends,” he joked in an interview with iFL TV. “But seriously, I’ve always loved Deontay Wilder.
“Obviously we’ve always had a rivalry through AJ, but I’ve been told to recruit a heavyweight for the division and I think Deontay Wilder will bounce back in style.
“I looked at the ones available and who was the best available? It was Deontay Wilder, and he’ll knock him out in five rounds.
“I made him my captain and who knows where it will take us after this, but we just have to go through Zhilei Zhang.”
Given that his working relationship with Hearn now appears mended, it will likely be easier than ever to take a fight with Joshua provided he gets the job done in Saudi Arabia.
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