Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed that his offer to Deontay Wilder is still on the table for an undisputed heavyweight title showdown with Anthony Joshua.
Speaking to iFL TV, Hearn stated:
“I haven’t withdrawn the offer. The offer is still there. He can sign for that fight today, tomorrow, Friday, next week… and it’s on.”
“If you’re so disappointed, so devastated that this has slipped through the net – it hasn’t. Show me the comments on Friday, or next week if you need a little bit more time. It’s still on. If you want it, it’s there. We’ll see if you want it.” said Hearn.
Hearn would go on to state that he contacted the WBC World heavyweight champion directly via e-mail the previous evening to offer him terms that would include a stay-busy fight in September or October – while Joshua faces mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin – before taking on Joshua at Wembley Stadium in April.
“Last night I sent Deontay Wilder an e-mail and said: ‘I’m very, very disappointed in your team that they never came back to me with comments on our contract, but great news: the offer is still there at $15m to fight at the next available date at Wembley Stadium (April 13th) and even better news… I’ll give you $5m for a tick-over fight in October or September against an opponent of your choice in New York.”
Having previously offered Wilder $5m to face another member of his stable, Dillian Whyte, Hearn revealed that the offer to Wilder for a tick-over fight could include opponents such as Dominic Breazeale – the current mandatory challenger to Wilder’s WBC title.
“Because you turned down $5m to fight Dillian Whyte – because that’s probably a little too tough for you – but the great news is, you can fight [Dominic] Breazeale… or you can box someone even easier – somebody you have boxed already – for $5m.”
“So I’m offering you $20m over two fights, to fight a tick-over and to fight Anthony Joshua on April 13th.”
Finally, Hearn stated that Wilder was under no obligation to accept the two-fight deal, reiterating that it was his priority to secure the Joshua fight first and foremost.
“You don’t have to take the tick-over in September or October, but you’re going to get considerably less to box in September or October if you don’t take it. But no problem, you can just sign Joshua in April – but if you want even bigger money, if you want a little bit more security, if you want to earn more over two fights than you can anywhere else: that offer is there for you.
“It was extended to him in writing last night – and we will see, but my focus is for him to sign the Joshua fight.”
What can be made of the latest developments in an already protracted series of negotiations is anyone’s guess.
However, it would now seem that the earliest in which the undisputed heavyweight title bout will be made is April 2019, leaving boxing fans once again waiting on the shelf to witness one of the sport’s marquee fights.