Rivals Forced to Share Flight After Wilder Agrees to Fight Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia

Eddie Hearn and Deontay Wilder, who have been engaged in a years-long feud, found themselves in an uncomfortable situation when they were forced to share a ten-hour flight together. This encounter came just hours after Wilder agreed to fight Hearn's man, Anthony Joshua, in Saudi Arabia on December 23.

History of Rivalry

Hearn and Wilder were originally scheduled to face each other in 2018, but the fight fell through. Since then, the two heavyweight giants have exchanged verbal blows and maintained a bitter rivalry.

An Unlikely Encounter

Shortly after Joshua and Wilder signed their agreement in London, Wilder headed to the airport to catch a flight back to Los Angeles. To his surprise, he ran into Hearn, who was also on his way to the City of Angels for a business trip. The two men faced the prospect of a grueling ten-hour flight sitting next to each other.

Putting the Past Behind

In a surprising turn of events, Hearn and Wilder decided to put their history aside. They shook hands and even posed for a photo together, signaling a new beginning in their relationship.

Wilder's Comment

Wilder commented on the photo, saying, "Damn, this is wilder than Wilder. If you know the history, then you know what's understood; it doesn't have to be explained. I will title this picture 'Old Endings for a New Beginning.' Finally, the boxing fans will get what they've been waiting YEARS for. The only thing that stands in the way now is Dec 23."

Hearn's Perspective

Hearn revealed more details about his encounter with Wilder, stating, "I got to the check-in this morning and was just very tired after a long day. And then I looked around, and it was Deontay and Malik Scott. They were heading on the same flight as me. I had a good chat with Deontay. I think he's chilled a little bit in the last year. He seems very focused ahead of a massive night of boxing. We talked about the AJ fight, we made it clear from our side that we want this fight. There's a lot of discussions ongoing, obviously, but also said let's not slip up in tough tests on December 23."