If Povetkin wins...

[Sid-Knee]

I'm not so sure.

Povetkin-Wilder in Moscow, to unify all of the belts is still a monster fight, and there likely won't be the flat fee junk either. Matinee on Showtime (likely between 2pm and 4pm EST), with the Russia fight lining up in primetime for Germany/France/UK/Africa/Middle East, seeing a near 50-50 for Wilder again flying to Moscow isn't unheard of. How close that gets to $15m will come down to the work that the two camps can do together.

And, if Joshua wins, the IBF belt is next in the rotation, and the money behind Kubrat Pulev (the likely mandatory challenger) has been doubling what Hearn has been willing to put down to get their man a major fight in Bulgaria. Who knows how much money they're working with (or where the money is coming from, tbh), but if Hearn/Joshua don't sweeten the deal to Wilder, the smokescreen vanishes, and it'll be a battle of wallets between Hearn (a rather shrewed operator who minds the money) and a Bulgarian backer who doesn't seem to care about money.

Is Anthony Joshua really ready to fight in Bulgaria over not offering Wilder something between 60/40 and 50/50 of everything to fight at Wembley? And though the IBF are sticklers for their rules, I'd imagine that an exception for an immediate rematch would be possible were it to be warranted.

Whomever wins out would then have to deal with the rotation, Pulev first for the IBF, Ortiz-TBA winner for the WBC, Charr-Oquendo winner for the WBA, and likely Whyte/Parker/Usyk-Gassiev winner/Fury for the WBO

You do know that if Povetkin wins against Joshua, he's not going to offer Wilder 50/50 or close to it don't you?

You're dreaming if you think this. There would be no reason to offer Wilder such an offer.

[Sid-Knee]

Maybe, but there's much more to lose now than he had back then.

once most fighters get to this point, they try to maintain it without risk. Even Hearn said ideally he doesn't want this Povetkin fight, but it's a mandatory. AJ can make the same money fighting worse opponents.

I'm sure AJ might be up for challenges, but the money men around him want to protect the cash cow they have built.

Fans wouldn't allow Joshua to fight just anyone. I remember just a few years ago they were screaming for him to step up even though he hadn't even been pro long. That's how the Whyte and Martin fights came about.

[Sid-Knee]

... it was some sort of a joke...

That's alright then.

[TheBigLug]

Fans wouldn't allow Joshua to fight just anyone. I remember just a few years ago they were screaming for him to step up even though he hadn't even been pro long. That's how the Whyte and Martin fights came about.

But now he's got a different fanbase to when he was coming up or going for his first title. He has become a crossover star. Now his fights are events that attract people going for a night out, not for boxing. His casual fanbase far outweigh his hardcore boxing fans...

That's why he sold out a stadium v Pulev (i know Takam was a stand-in). You think most people who bought tickets even know who Pulev is? - I know dozens of people that go to AJ fights and they don't even watch any other boxing.

I'm not knocking AJ, his list of opponents so far is impressive but now he's reached this point, his career will be handled more carefully. No business risks their biggest product if they can earn similar without the risks, which is what he can do right now.

[Buckfever]

What do you mean if Joshua wins he's the A side for sure? He's the A side for sure now. Wilder is a weak B side.

I'm not saying that Joshua isn't the A side now, what I am saying is that a win over Povetkin makes the gap even bigger, weakens Wilder's negotiating position.

[Sid-Knee]

But now he's got a different fanbase to when he was coming up or going for his first title. He has become a crossover star. Now his fights are events that attract people going for a night out, not for boxing. His casual fanbase far outweigh his hardcore boxing fans...

That's why he sold out a stadium v Pulev (i know Takam was a stand-in). You think most people who bought tickets even know who Pulev is? - I know dozens of people that go to AJ fights and they don't even watch any other boxing.

I'm not knocking AJ, his list of opponents so far is impressive but now he's reached this point, his career will be handled more carefully. No business risks their biggest product if they can earn similar without the risks, which is what he can do right now.

I think the fights that matter will happen, but you disagree. That's fair enough. We'll just have to wait and see.

[Sid-Knee]

I'm not saying that Joshua isn't the A side now, what I am saying is that a win over Povetkin makes the gap even bigger, weakens Wilder's negotiating position.

OK, cool. That's alright then.

[sicko]

Compared to Joshua Wilder makes peanuts.

Respect to AJ! He won Gold at the Olympics so he was able to rally the UK behind him while the Olympics was IN THE UK that year and that has made Eddie job easy to market him

As for Wilder, peanuts to AJ is still a lot of money so he is not desperate nor is he starving for a big payday.

[Sid-Knee]

Respect to AJ! He won Gold at the Olympics so he was able to rally the UK behind him while the Olympics was IN THE UK that year and that has made Eddie job easy to market him

As for Wilder, peanuts to AJ is still a lot of money so he is not desperate nor is he starving for a big payday.

Wilder sounds pretty desperate for money to me. Why would he price himself out otherwise? If it was just about the fight he would accept the contract he agreed to. He wouldn't make things even more difficult by coming out and making more ridiculous demands.

[Raggamuffin]

that would be really sad for AJ

povetkin is 38 and was beaten up 6 years ago by a cruiser....he also swerved wilder much like his next opponent....

AJ would be laughed at and considered a disgrace

so whatever....im sure wilder will be fine making 3 mil a fight while still the unbeaten HW champ of the world

meanwhile you guys would be even more disgraced than you already are

try to have a good day today...remember one day at a time

Lmmfao, hahahahahaahahahahaha lol...