Wilder confident over Joshua deal but demands ´50-50´ split
Deontay Wilder remains confident a blockbuster heavyweight unification fight with Anthony Joshua will take place, but insists the financial terms must be 50-50.
WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belt-holder Joshua is set to fight Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium in September, a mandatory title defence.
The Briton’s back-and-forth negotiations with Wilder have continued over many months, with Eddie Hearn – his promoter – suggesting this week his man is ready to sign the proposed contract, while stating Wilder’s fee should be lowered because he feels the American cannot find an opponent who will boost his value.
WBC champion Wilder, though, is far from impressed with the terms presently on the table for a proposed bout, which Hearn wants to take place at Wembley next April.
“This fight definitely can be made,” he said to Premier Boxing Champions.
“I think the fight will be made. Just that this time around when you come to the table, you’ll have to come correct. This will be a 50-50 fight. And that’s the bottom line.
“We’ve tried everything… I’m not going to sign a contract that doesn’t have a date, that doesn’t have a venue.
“Nah, that’s one-sided. This contract is straight blind, one-sided, anyone who’s talking about ‘just sign it’ you can kiss me where the sun don’t shine, baby, because that ain’t never happening.”
Sorry for not posting in a while.. I’ve just been hanging around waiting for a signature #AJBXNG pic.twitter.com/2d3Gtr56Ed
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyfjoshua) July 9, 2018
As Joshua does battle with Povetkin, Wilder is expected to take on compatriot Dominic Breazeale in his own mandatory defence.
Wilder added: “The fans can expect to see me back in the ring very soon.
“We’ve got a great thing going and we’re going to show the world that I am definitely the true heavyweight champion of the world.
“America has a great champion in Deontay Wilder and once I unify the division everyone can have a chance.
“The heavyweight division is too small to have so many champions. It’s a must, it’s a need to have one champion. One face, one name, and that’s me.”
