Eddie Hearn has taken aim at Deontay Wilder and declared he has ‘never beaten an elite heavyweight’ ahead of his anticipated showdown against Anthony Joshua.

Wilder’s team are optimistic they will reach an agreement over a deal for a mega-fight against Joshua, likely to be staged in Saudi Arabia early next year.

Two-time world champion Joshua ensured he remained on course for the eagerly-anticipated clash after his knockout triumph over Robert Helenius last weekend.

And his sights are now firmly fixed on the Bronze Bomber, with his promoter also aiming a dig at him and voicing confusion over how he is held in such high regard.

‘I cannot believe how highly people rate Deontay Wilder,’ Hearn told Boxing Social.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has declared Deontay Wilder has ‘never beaten an elite heavyweight’

Wilder is widely expected to take on Anthony Joshua in a mega showdown early next year

Joshua remained on course for the clash of the titans after knocking out Robert Helenius

‘He’s never beaten a top-five heavyweight. Luis Ortiz is his best win – he was getting smashed in the first fight, he was 7-0 down in the second fight.

‘He’s never beaten an elite heavyweight.’

Joshua’s victory over Helenius, a short-notice stand-in for Dillian Whyte, was his second in a row since his consecutive defeats by Oleksandr Usyk.

Hearn shared his delight with the 33-year-old’s first stoppage win in almost three years and is confident the superstar would be able to ‘outbox’ Wilder.

‘I think that he can beat Deontay Wilder comfortably, but he could also get beat by Deontay Wilder,’ he explained.

‘I don’t think necessarily, I mean, the good thing is he got – what was it – seven rounds in against a tall opponent who can punch a bit with the backhand?

‘I think it’s difficult to replicate certainly the power of Deontay Wilder.

‘But I’ve always felt that AJ can outbox Deontay Wilder.’

Hearn believes Joshua would outbox rival Wilder but admitted their fight could go either way