Wilder throws $50m bait, but Hearn wants to see the money
new york — Anthony Joshua is unconvinced American Deontay Wilder’s team have the $50 million that they are offering for a title unification bout, the British boxer’s promoter Eddie Hearn has said.
America’s WBC heavyweight world champion Wilder challenged WBA Super, IBF, IBO and WBO champion Joshua to the fight with both boxers guaranteed a 50-50 money split. Hearn, however, said his team needs to be convinced the money exists.
“It’s not a case of we sign the contract and they go and raise the money. If you’ve got it — show it and then we can talk,” Hearn, who is in New York for a Matchroom Boxing USA card and will meet Wilder’s representatives on Friday, said.
Wilder’s promoter Shelly Finkel had earlier given Joshua until midnight on Thursday to respond to the offer.
“I spoke to AJ, he knows the situation but we want to know if it’s real,” Hearn added. “We want to see the money and know where it is. There is a real strong chance this fight could happen — we’re not looking to be difficult.”
However, Finkel said the money was in place. “If he accepts it, it will be there. Al Haymon and I have never not delivered what we’ve offered,” he said.
Joshua last month moved a step closer to becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world after beating New Zealand’s Joseph Parker in their title unification bout to improve his record to 21-0.
The 2012 Olympic champion added Parker’s WBO belt to his own collection.
Earlier, Wilder had told Joshua “the money’s in the bag”. In a Twitter video posted Wednesday, America’s World Boxing Council world champion Wilder backed up reports that his camp had emailed Britain’s Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn an offer of a minimum of $50 million.
“I’ve got something special for you,” Wilder tells Joshua in the video. “By the way, all the money is in the bag. I expect you’ll be a man of your word.”
The Los Angeles Times reported that Wilder promoter Lou DiBella had confirmed the offer for a fight in the United States sometime between September and December. “We’ll see how badly he wants the fight,” DiBella told the newspaper. “Anthony Joshua has said he’d accept this offer. If Eddie Hearn is not looking to stop it from happening, they now have an extraordinary offer to consider.”
ESPN reported that both camps had confirmed the offer, adding that it was for one fight, with no rematch clause, and would have to be the next bout for each fighter.