Comments Thread For: Hearn: I'll Pay Wilder $5M to Fight Anyone He Wants Next in N.Y.

[Outwest Exp 355]

Does it really matter to boxing fans who shows the fight? I suppose at least with Matchroom showing an interest in Wilder, Showtime (or whoever) may be forced to start paying him what he he's worth. I like Wilder and his unorthodox style so in my view, if his profile rises, he gets paid more (which he should be) and the AJ vs Wilder build up move to a different level. Win Win!

It matters to me because I already have the Showtime app and I’m not shelling out 20 dollars for the DAZN bullshyt app.

[NearHypnos]

"We shouldn’t take what the fighters themselves say at face value."

Wilder came through with bag! Wilder then accepted coming to the UK, and Wilder accepted a flat-fee offer, and Joshua still went "that way!" Obviously we can not take what Joshua says at face value, but Wilder is real about this fight! It is what it is! Ask Lennox Lewis!!!

June 28, 2018:

“My thoughts on ANTHONYjoshua and Bronzebomber situation are that when I was champ, I wanted to face the best to show the world who’s the best. Period,” Lewis stated in his first Tweet. “I’ve heard them both speak on it, but I’ve also seen that AJ has changed his tune. This isn’t a 2yr down the line thing!"

“[The] way I see it AJ is the man,” Lewis Tweeted. “He gets to choose time and place for first fight. I’d make Wilder come to me also … but from what I see from Wilder, he’s willing to … and this is same attitude I would have. When the HW division finally has a pulse, we need action, not talk!”

https://www.boxingscene.com/lennox-lewis-joshua-changed-his-tune-about-fighting-wilder--129517

Translation: Joshua don't want no smoke!!!

Joshua has fought a better fighter than Wilder...

What you should be saying but you’re too invested and proud to admit is

“Joshua can’t be bothered with that smoke because Wilder is just the top of the challengers. Nothing more nothing less. He can get that smoke with anyone else for as much money.”


You can say all you want about how Wilder is real and how he accepted things but last everyone in the world saw, from the horse’s mouth himself, was that he did NOT sign.

Not signed = not agreed in the real world.



We can all sit here and talk and dream about and how Wilder will one day sell 400k ppv against Ortiz as if Wilder is suddenly goint to start fabricating big names to fight to get there.

400k...against a guy he already beat...that’s the dream.

Joshua is already selling over a million...

The only guy doing numbers like that is Canelo. Now if you expect me to believe Wilder is gonna go fight Joshua’s left overs and become a ppv star without Joshua, then go for it.

I border on damn near being a Wilder nut hugger but I’m not delusional either...

Some people are reaching peak Pacmania levels of irrational thought but Pacquiao was at least a global star...




We’re just going to have to agree to disagree like gentlemen here on this. We’re beating a dead horse here.

[Bronx2245]

Joshua has fought a better fighter than Wilder...

What you should be saying but you’re too invested and proud to admit is

“Joshua can’t be bothered with that smoke because Wilder is just the top of the challengers. Nothing more nothing less. He can get that smoke with anyone else for as much money.”


You can say all you want about how Wilder is real and how he accepted things but last everyone in the world saw, from the horse’s mouth himself, was that he did NOT sign.

Not signed = not agreed in the real world.



We can all sit here and talk and dream about and how Wilder will one day sell 400k ppv against Ortiz as if Wilder is suddenly goint to start fabricating big names to fight to get there.

400k...against a guy he already beat...that’s the dream.

Joshua is already selling over a million...

The only guy doing numbers like that is Canelo. Now if you expect me to believe Wilder is gonna go fight Joshua’s left overs and become a ppv star without Joshua, then go for it.

I border on damn near being a Wilder nut hugger but I’m not delusional either...

Some people are reaching peak Pacmania levels of irrational thought but Pacquiao was at least a global star...




We’re just going to have to agree to disagree like gentlemen here on this. We’re beating a dead horse here.

We can't agree because you don't want to admit something that is very obvious, even to Lennox Lewis, and that is Joshua is the one who does not want the fight! I agree Joshua is the A-side, and that Joshua has sold more tickets, etc., but in the end Joshua walked away from a HISTORIC amount of money for a heavyweight title fight, and then offered a disrespectful counter-offer! Due to his actions, the fight will not be happening! So when you're enjoying Joshua vs. Povetkin, just realize Wilder was in Europe, on his way to Russia, but Povetkin ****ed that up! Wilder was willing to come to the UK, but Joshua ****ed that up! So don't come on here saying "Why is Wilder fighting Brezeale?"

[Manlikefemi]

... Showtime is a US broadcaster; saying US and Showtime PPV makes no sense. If Joshua's camp had accepted the offer, the American fighter would've had the fight on his broadcaster in the US and the British fighter would've had the fight on his broadcaster in the UK.

Eddie Hearn's offer, if that was truly the offer, cut Wilder's broadcaster out of the deal.

It'd be almost as if Team Wilder said here's the $50m, the fight will be on our preferred broadcaster, Showtime , in the US, but the deal also calls for the UK rights to be given to Dave in the UK.

Hearn made that move, because Wilder's $50M offer cut Sky Sports out of the deal. I believe Wilder's Team wanted to leverage the UK TV Rights. Didn't you hear Hearn saying, Joshua had Commercial Interests and Legally Binding Contracts with Broadcasters (with Sky being one). So Hearn returned the favour. He is very slick

[Manlikefemi]

HBO and Showtime always guarantee the purses for major PPVs. Showtime was guaranteeing the 50 million.

It was not Showtime. Or Espinoza would have hinted at it and Hearn would've spilled.

[Manlikefemi]

Deontay Wilder has a year's long working relationship with Showtime that everyone seems more than happy with.

Anthony Joshua has no contract with Wembley Arena, or any arena anywhere, but comfort is still comfort.

It's a two-way street and that should be respected by both parties, instead of only Eddie Hearn's deals having merit (Still don't see anything about Sky Sports signing Anthony Joshua to anything, and Eddie Hearn already went to the public with his story of the DAZN deal supposedly having nothing to do with Anthony Joshua).

To each their own, I guess

Sky Sports Box Office and Anthony Joshua in conjunction with Matchroom Sport have a deal in place which protects UK TV Rights ONLY. Why do you think the Sky Sports Logo is on AJ's Clothing at Press conferences etc the same as Under Armour and Lucozade ? They are a Commercial Partnership

[N/A]

It was not Showtime. Or Espinoza would have hinted at it and Hearn would've spilled.

It wasn't Espinoza's place to say anything. Because the way it works is that Haymon/Finkel would still show other proof of funds first, as they haven't sold the distribution rights to Showtime yet. Then when that time comes, Showtime agrees to front the money in exchange for the distribution rights. It's a formality, but you don't technically sell the rights to Showtime before you actually have a fight, so it wouldn't be Showtime "proving" the funds are there, even though ultimately it would be Showtime cutting the check and then recouping when the PPV money comes in.

[ChrisCook]

It matters to me because I already have the Showtime app and I’m not shelling out 20 dollars for the DAZN bullshyt app.

Well I guess that Matchroom US will be trying to convert you all to DAZN, whether it is a viable alternative, time will tell. Listening to what's being mentioned at the moment, it will be very interesting to see.

[Manlikefemi]

It wasn't Espinoza's place to say anything. Because the way it works is that Haymon/Finkel would still show other proof of funds first, as they haven't sold the distribution rights to Showtime yet. Then when that time comes, Showtime agrees to front the money in exchange for the distribution rights. It's a formality, but you don't technically sell the rights to Showtime before you actually have a fight, so it wouldn't be Showtime "proving" the funds are there, even though ultimately it would be Showtime cutting the check and then recouping when the PPV money comes in.

That does not makes sense. Yes you are correct with the distribution bit. Showtime can only get involved once the US TV Rights are up for sale, as they do not have a legally binding contract with either Joshua or Wilder.

However given Joshua-Wilder is taking place in the UK, and at a different time zome, (it would be lunchtime in some states in the US ). I doubt they would pay over $5M. Showtime do not have a unlimited boxing budget.

That money was founded by Al Haymon.

[ChrisCook]

^^^lol.

It obviously matters enough to Matchroom Sport that they chose to take considerably less money to keep the fight at home.

Wilder got a guaranteed $2.1m for the Ortiz fight on Showtime; Wilder is basically sitting on the cap of what one can max get paid on premium TV (HBO/Showtime). The payout for Wilder-Ortiz was over $3m for the show (CBS being on board extends the cap to about $4.5m for a show before needing to go to PPV).

All this is is Hearn stalling for time and trying to save face.

So? While 3 or 3 million is a lot of money to someone like me, it really is nothing compared to what Joshua will earn fighting anyone, anywhere; but none of this has anything to do with it. Ultimately, I couldn't care less who shows it as long as it happens. If Joshua wants to fight at home, thats where he will fight. He is the main draw here and calls the shots.
When I grew up all of the big fights took place in the US, it was almost like the spiritual home of championship boxing... but that is no longer the case. The UK and Matchroom are in the ascendancy, which I sense, forms the basis of all your spite... Look, whether you like it or not, Joshua will decide what happens and Wilder will have no choice but to agree, that is if he wants it, which I think is the problem.