50-50 or no fight – Wilder wants split Joshua purse

Deontay Wilder is unwilling to get in the ring with Anthony Joshua unless a 50-50 share of the purse is agreed.

WBA and IBF heavyweight champion Joshua is 20-0, all by knockout, following his win over Carlos Takam in Cardiff in October.

Last month, Wilder retained his WBC crown by flooring Bermane Stiverne in the first round to move to 39-0, and Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn reportedly held talks with the American’s representatives about a potential meeting next year.

Joseph Parker, the WBO champ, is also in the mix for a unification bout with Joshua in 2018, and the New Zealander is happy to settle for a 35 per cent share of profits – a notion Wilder will not entertain.

“I don’t think they are trying to make a negotiation at this point,” Wilder told ESPN. “I think they are trying to seek Parker. They got him on his agenda.

“[He is] their top priority which is fine. If they don’t want to fight at this time, that it is ok.

“We’re not [going to] chase [anybody]. I’m not chasing Joshua. If Joshua [doesn’t] want to fight, then that’s fine. If they want to have one fight apiece, and fight me next, that is fine.

“It is a great fight, it is one of the biggest fights in the world and everyone wants it.

“It will be 50-50 or else we don’t see a fight.

“If they want to use splits, not to make a fight happen, then so be it. It is not like I am asking for more, I’m saying this is a 50-50 fight and that’s how it is. In the rematch, then we can talk about 60-40 splits or whatever. That is more acceptable.

“The state of boxing, the heavyweight division, we can finally say it is back, it is exciting, it’s on fire and to make it even more lit, and even more exciting is going to be the moment when me and Joshua stand in the middle of the ring.

“All the eyes around the world will be watching. We will stop the world in a moment in time to see once and for all, who is the heavyweight champion of the world.”