Deontay Wilder has laid out his conditions for a potential bout with Anthony Joshua, saying he is not willing to accept anything less than a 50/50 split of the purse.
The WBC champ recently turned down a $100million three-fight deal from broadcaster DAZN, which would have included a pair of meetings with Joshua. That led to some claiming Wilder was avoiding the English heavyweight, although he claims this is not the case.
Wilder said he turned down that deal for financial reasons, and has made it clear what his demands are. While Joshua may hold three world titles to the American's one, he feels he is the bigger draw. As such, he wants to split the fight purse straight down the middle.
He told The Schmo (h/t The Express):
Whatever the fight was worth, let’s say $3, and you give me $1 and he gets the rest of the pot – I’m lowering my standards. That’s not right to me.
Like I said, and I’ll say it again, the only way this fight is going to happen is if it’s 50/50. I don’t care what it is.
At this point in time it ain’t even about the belts. I’m the hottest, most talked about fighter in the world right now and I got one belt.
I got the one belt that means more than all the other belts. That’s that green WBC belt.
The most precious and beautiful belt in boxing. Every great fighter has had this belt. If they want to correct, it’s going to be right down the line.
Whether Wilder can secure such a deal remains to be seen. Fight fans are growing tired of the three biggest names in the heavyweight division avoiding each other, especially with Joshua yet to square off against Wilder or Tyson Fury.
Fury also turned down a rematch with the American in preference of a different multi-fight deal, and that bout will now have to wait until 2020.
If Joshua is to remove doubts about his standing as the top heavyweight in the world, he is going to have to face these two sooner rather than later.
