I turned down $50m to fight Wilder, Says Joshua

Nigerian-born British boxer Anthony Joshua has revealed why the fight between him and Deontay Wilder did not happen this year.

The unbeaten heavyweight champions were expected to fight for the biggest prize in boxing this summer before they settled for different opponents in persons of Alexander Povetkin and Tyson Fury respectively.

Joshua who defeated Povetkin back in September at Wembley, however, admitted the opponent should have been Wilder but the 50% proposed offer worth 25% due to his partnership with other agencies.

While speaking to Kugan Cassius for iFL TV, Joshua said it’s the first time he ever had issues with financial part of a fight and the deal was more difficult than Wilder’s camp made the World to believe.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever really had issues on the financial side with a fighter.

“So, let’s say that fifty million we talked about. Listen, it’s a hell of a lot of money and it was an honour to even have that number thrown at me!

“But then when you dissected it and what it actually it was, it was kind of like a rights fee – ‘We own you for this amount of money’.

“The issue I had was that I’ve got long-standing contracts in place with certain partnerships. So you may put that money forward and think that you own me 100% but you may only own 50% so that makes their 50% worth 25%.

“So when you start getting into the intricacies of a contract and what the real value is, that’s when that starts taking place.

“So the $50m was unbelievable, it’s a great number, but there are things in place that don’t make that $50m worth it to the person paying it.”

Boxing lovers might have to wait longer to see the fight between the two heavyweights kings as WBC has sanctioned a rematch between Wilder and Tyson after the initial first bout ended in a draw.

Joshua on his part could face British rival Dillian Whyte in a rematch on April 13 at Wembley next year.

“Dillian Whyte is a good fighter,” he added. “And if there is anyone I want to fight – especially break bread with in terms of internationally – he deserves it.”