Comments Thread For: The Heavyweights: A Little Less Conversation

[Fire4231]

Mildly warm garbage, I hate floaty I don’t have an opinion because I don’t want to rock the boat journalism. This is a prime example!!

If you are too blind to see who always has trouble making relevant fights an who seems to be ready for any foe, at least put pressure on all parties.

Pressure bursts pipes. These writers are horrible and need to write real articles so that fights happen and boxing thrives. Those that do this well will gain popularity and would not have to depend on promotor kick backs to eat.

[Jax teller]

I don’t really see how you can blame Wilder for backing outta the original deal when he found investors that were willing to put a lot more money on the table. I mean, he has people telling him he can make $50M+ and willing to put their money where their mouths are. Hell I’d take that over a $12M flat fee too.

No way is he getting 50 mil plus the fight would have to make over 150mil for that to happen with the offer he gave AJ. Wilders just blowing smoke to try and squeeze some more cash out and AJ isn't in a rush. Don't think either guy is desperate to make the fight and that's why it hasn't happened tbh.

[LCRUMMY36]

They just can’t handle playing second fiddle to Hearn. I’ve said this all along.

They’d rather fight a bum and make far less money but be the ones calling the shots, than they would fight a genuine top 5 HW for a career high payday but on Hearn’s terms.

If A.J fight Wilder it would also generate more money tha.anyone else A.J can fight..

Because of that, Wilder deserve a bigger cut of that pie.

Plus, why give flat rate and not a percentage???

[Bigchip]

FInkel and Team wilder are terrified. They want to
Protect that bum as long as they can.

[Vae Victis]

I can't speak for the world, but in the U.S., if you're 6'0" or taller, 230lbs. or larger, and you're a top level athlete, you play football or basketball! In the Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Norton, etc., the HW Champ made a lot more than the top NFL or NBA athlete! Now the top NFL and NBA players make substantially more than HW fighters (AJ might be the exception)! Football and Basketball dominate on the youth level! Wilder didn't even start boxing until 19, because he was pursuing a football career! Until that fighter money increases, things will stay the same!

I hope that you are correct, but I'm not sure that big money will get more Americans into boxing (for whatever reason); however, I am sure that it will contribute to the ongoing influx of athletes from what was the USSR and eastern block countries.

[Bronx2245]

I hope that you are correct, but I'm not sure that big money will get more Americans into boxing (for whatever reason); however, I am sure that it will contribute to the ongoing influx of athletes from what was the USSR and eastern block countries.

You'll always have fighters coming from America, but it's hard to get the Heavyweights, especially while their young! You'll see more Wilders (those who give up on basketball and football in their late teens) than Muhammad Alis and George Foremans!

[Vae Victis]

No way is he getting 50 mil plus the fight would have to make over 150mil for that to happen with the offer he gave AJ. Wilders just blowing smoke to try and squeeze some more cash out and AJ isn't in a rush. Don't think either guy is desperate to make the fight and that's why it hasn't happened tbh.

The fifty-million was confirmed. All AJ had to do was sign and box Wilder, and the fifty-million was his. If the promotion generated any revenues, then AJ was to get a percentage of that as well. In fact, the contract called for another thirty-million (confirmed) for AJ in a rematch. AJ reneged on his public demand for fifty-million. And AJ's a coward until he makes good and fights Wilder (regardless if he wins or loses). Your boy, AJ, publicly demanded fifty-million to fight Wilder, and once that demand was met (and confirmed), AJ reneged. Those are the facts. And it's terrible for boxing. Name any other fighter in the history of boxing who demanded fifty-million dollars to fight an opponent and then reneged. You can't. AJ alone is the fifty-million dollar coward. I imagine that Wilder will be having the laugh at AJ's expense for years to come over that fifty-million dollar demand and refusal to honor it. I know that I would.

[Iamsmoke89]

Whatever reason made him agree to the terms of the contract the first time around.

Frankly, I can't be bothered to get into this because I've done it too many times already.

I'm not an AJ fan, but you can't say that AJ is 100% unwilling to fight Wilder because Wilder has a contract waiting on his desk for a not unreasonable sum of money. If Wilder wants to become the king of the division the easiest way is through Joshua, even if he takes diminished pay for his coronation.

I have a question for u. Y couldn’t hearn and aj put a date and venue in the first contract? If that was done the first time we would have a fight at the end of this year between aj and wilder. Now all of a sudden u sign a contract to fight in sep at the stadium u claim was booked. When u was in wilder talks. I don’t blame him for refusing give him a %

[Iamsmoke89]

Wilder was actually 21 when he first started boxing. In less than 3 years he won the National golden gloves, U.S. championships, and an Olympic bronze medal. 30-5 amateur record. Turn pro in 2008 following those olympics. The guy was pretty much an amateur fighting professionals, and gets criticized for his record. Started boxing at 21, went pro at 23. I would love some one to name another boxer who has done that.

Good facts there bud I sure as hell didn’t know that

[Iamsmoke89]

I agree. But Wilder accepted the deal the first time round, so it's not as if the figure is contemptible.

AJ's, or rather his team's, behaviour has been woeful during the whole negotiation. The $50m gaff was ridiculous.

But I'm not buying the argument that AJ won't fight Wilder under any conditions because Wilder could just take the deal and fight him for $15m (which isn't an insignificant amount of money). Granted, it probably represents a small (maybe a very small) percentage of the overall pot, but Wilder's upside would be enormous if he beat Joshua, which I think he does at this point in time. His chances in the fight only decrease with time because Joshua is entering his prime and Wilder is gradually leaving his.

Honestly the way I see it if wilder put pressure on aj aj is going down and he going down bad. And I’ll that same opinion for the next 2 to 3 years