Deontay Wilder has claimed that Anthony Joshua has turned down a huge offer of $50 Million to face him, after asking for the same amount himself.
It’s Anthony Joshua’s management that have held him back from fighting me: Deontay Wilder
The two former heavyweight world champions will be featured on the same card in different fights on December 23rd in Saudi Arabia as part of a massive event. The former unified heavyweight champ in Joshua will headline the event against Otto Wallin, while Wilder, the former WBC titlist, will lock horns against Joseph Parker, the former WBO champion, in the co-main event.
Rumors are there that if both Wilder and Joshua win their respective matches, the two may be pitted against one another for a huge showdown next year. However, Wilder alleged that his team had already reached out to Joshua for the fight, who demanded $50 Million. However, after the financial demand was met, the Brit’s side rejected the offer.
“He asked for $50 million and we provided that for him and he did not take it. And the only way you can disregard that is to make a mockery of it, try to make a joke of it, try to make it seem to the public that it’s not real,” said Wilder in a recent interview with The Daily Mail. “It’s an ‘oh sh!t moment’. They came up with $50 million. That’s why they don’t have Joshua speaking a lot on his own behalf and if he does speak he always slips up and says things that are not appealing to his people. And they have to play clean up.”
“It’s his management that have held him back from fighting me because, you know, he’s a fighter. It’s been over six years (waiting for the fight to be made). But there comes a point in time we’re you’re like, ‘Forget it’. Many times he wanted to fight, he wanted to accept it but his handlers didn’t want it because Joshua is the money-maker for the company. And if he goes down, so does the business,” Wilder added. [H/T Boxing Scene]