The Ring reports that Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has made an offer to Deontay Wilder’s adviser Al Haymon in hopes of getting a deal between the two heavyweight champions.
After winning the WBO World heavyweight championship from Joseph Parker in Cardiff, Joshua made it clear that Wilder and the WBC belt are next in line for him.
“Wilder has my 100 per cent attention. We’re about to make another offer to Wilder’s team – a very good offer that should create a lot of interest from Wilder,” said Joshua to Sky Sports earlier this week.
According to Ring Magazine, one of Hearn’s offers to Wilder was $12.5 million.
“If they don’t want it, we’ll fight our mandatory. If they don’t accept it, the fight’s not dead. It just means we’re going to fight Alexander Povetkin next, and we’ll talk again in December, or February or March of next year,” said Hearn in an interview with The Ring.
Wilder’s co-manager Shelly Finkel and the WBC champion himself are willing to do a 60/40 split but Hearn’s offer would equate to about 30 per cent.
💰 Eddie Hearn has described claims that Anthony Joshua v Deontay Wilder would be worth $80m-$100m as "total madness" and says a conservative budget would be $40m.
This would make their $12.5m offer worth 31.25%, not less than 20% as reported yesterday.
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) April 11, 2018
When asked about Hearn’s offer, Finkel wasn’t happy.
“No comment at all. We’re preparing a response,” commented Finkel to The Ring.
Hearn added that in his estimate, Wilder is not worth a 60/40 split.
“We’re the A-side of this matchup. A 60-40 split is so disproportionate in terms of the relative values of both fighters. Our offer is five times what Deontay Wilder has made for any fight. Everything he gets in this fight is because of Anthony,” told the promoter.
Back to work & I can't wait for what's next! Treating my workout recovery seriously with a @BulkPowders AFTERMATH™ shake. #BULKPOWDERS#TEAMBULKpic.twitter.com/Tl2wSfsl8m
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) April 6, 2018
Finkel believes they will eventually get a deal done but not just yet.
“If it’s up to us, yes. We want the fight to get done. It’s the right fight at the right time for both fighters. I believe it will happen. But it’s just not happening yet,” he said.
One name who has stepped up and offered his help in the negotiations is Showtime boss Stephen Espinoza, who is hopeful that he can ‘grease the wheels.’
“If we can help mediate, we will. We have offered that. We are a key element of the negotiation.
“If we can grease the wheels, in terms of getting the deal done attractively to everyone, then we will do our best,” Espinoza said.
Espinoza is also confident that a deal will be made at some point ‘under the right conditions.’
Been #Blessed
By the #Best 🥊#BombZquadpic.twitter.com/bhyJI0Cy5F— Deontay Wilder (@BronzeBomber) April 10, 2018
“I have no doubt that this fight will happen. It could be the next fight, the second fight, or in the spring of 2019. I don’t think we’ll see a drawn-out negotiation because I see two fighters anxious to stage a worldwide mega-fight.
“Deontay will make the decisions that suit him best, as will Anthony. But we have a long history with Deontay – a close working and personal relationship. The same is true with AJ, except the history is not as long. They each know our heart is in the right place. Our interest is making this fight at the right time, under the right conditions,” told Espinoza.
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