Eddie Hearn reveals details of offers made to Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury for Anthony Joshua fight
The promoter has spoken in depth about his attempts to make the undisputed heavyweight title bout
Eddie Hearn has publicly revealed details of his offer to Deontay Wilder for a heavyweight with Anthony Joshua on April 13 at Wembley.
The unified champion’s promoter had previously stated he would keep such negotiations confidential, however, Hearn claims to have had no recent response from the American’s camp and so detailed the numbers.
After talks for a flat fee deal collapsed last summer, the teams have now been negotiating a percentage split agreement, but a disparity in desired figures has been one factor keeping the bout from happening.
Hearn told reporters in New York: “On any planet you live on – whether it’s Earth or Mars – Deontay Wilder cannot get 50/50 for an Anthony Joshua fight.
“You have to respect him. But we have to talk about levels, we have to talk about earnings, we have to talk about what people are bringing to the table. Deontay Wilder brings an awful lot to the table.
“60/40 – Are you really telling me that’s not a fair split in that fight?”
“We offered him 65/35, with a $15million guarantee. It was a guaranteed two-way fight.
“If Wilder lost we’d still do fight two in America, if Wilder won, we’d still do fight two in America.
“If Wilder lost in the first fight, he would get 70/30 in the second fight, so he’d get another crack with just five per cent less. If he won, it’d be 50/50. That was the offer.
“Now we’re increasing that offer. We’ll go to 60/40, no problem.”
The $15million guarantee acts as a safety net to ensure Deontay Wilder would make at least $15million from the fight, though with the 40% percentage split he would undoubtedly make more regardless.
The WBC heavyweight champion has instead been discussing a rematch with Tyson Fury – that has now been ordered by the WBC – following their draw on December 1.
Fury meanwhile has been in contact with Eddie Hearn, weighing up his options and considering taking the Anthony Joshua fight on April 13 himself.
Frank Warren confirmed an offer had been made to Fury last weekend, however declared that it was “derisory” and not a 60/40 split.
Hearn responded to this by saying: “The reason I didn’t offer him 60/40 is because I had a conversation with Tyson Fury who said, ‘I do not want a percentage split, make me a financial offer.’
“The financial offer was on the estimated budget at 60/40.
“For the record, if Tyson Fury wants 60/40, he’s got it. If he wants 50/50 that fight is not gonna happen right now.
“If he beats Deontay Wilder in the rematch, there’s a very good chance that he will get that fight 50/50.
“There’ll be no improved offers from 60/40 for Wilder and Fury.”
When asked whether Deontay Wilder would get a 50/50 offer if he knocked out Tyson Fury in their potential rematch, the promoter replied: “Quite possibly, yeah, depending on how the numbers do.”
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To clarify, Eddie Hearn claims that as the situation currently stands, both Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury can accept 60/40 offers to fight Anthony Joshua on April 13 at Wembley Stadium.
However, should they choose to rematch instead, then the winner will be in line for a 50/50 fight with AJ later this year.