Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has responded to claims that Anthony Joshua has been trying to avoid a fight with Deontay Wilder.

Wilder stopped Luis Ortiz in spectacular fashion on Saturday night to retain his WBC heavyweight title in Las Vegas.

The 'Bronze Bomber' and his team suggested they have been trying to arrange a fight with Joshua but have not heard from Eddie Hearn since November.

In the post-fight press conference, Finkel - Wilder's manager - lifted a printed A4 sheet and stated: "I have an email here, dated November 29, it was the evening of the day I met Eddie Hearn's father.

"He said at the meeting: 'I think we could do bigger business in Las Vegas, because I can bring over 20,000 Brits who can spend more money just like they did for Ricky Hatton.'

"I said: 'Fine. Put the numbers together, we're ready to make a deal.'

"I got a letter, and I'll quote it from Eddie: 'Glad you had a good chinwag with the old man,' you know that's from him, that's not the language we speak here!

"'I will get the respective sales profit-loss this week to you for discussion,' meaning what we would make in the UK and what we'd make in Vegas. 'All the best, Eddie.'

"I have never heard from him since. The bottom line is, if someone wants a fight, it gets made. I know, no matter what is said, he [Joshua] doesn't want the fight."

Joshua is set to face Joseph Parker in Cardiff on March 31 and Wilder is expected to be ringside.

Eddie Hearn responds

The English boxing promoter has responded to Team Wilder's suggested that Joshua "doesn't want the fight".

"Saturday was a great fight and Deontay showed plenty of heart," Hearn told Sky Sports. "He hardly won a round outside of the fifth and looked finished in the seventh. It was a great finish and a big night for him.

"The fight with Anthony Joshua is inevitable, but AJ must win on March 31, and that is the only focus right now. I see the Joseph Parker fight as just as tough as the Wilder fight, so it would be foolish to look past him.

"You don't have to worry about AJ wanting fights like this - his track record speaks for itself. This is his second unification fight and it's his 21st fight. Others talk about unifications and 'one champ', but what are they actually doing about it?

"We look forward to welcoming Deontay Wilder to Cardiff on March 31 for what will be a very special night."

There you have it - it looks like the fight is "inevitable" and could really happen later this year.