Tony Bellew has labelled Anthony Joshua the ‘biggest draw’ in heavyweight boxing as the former unified champion considers an offer for a 2022 fight with Tyson Fury.
The current WBC ruler issued the challenge to Joshua on Monday night and backed up his offer by presenting AJ with a 60/40 split despite him holding no belts and coming off two losses.
Despite Joshua’s misfortune inside the ring throughout the last year, the 2012 Olympic gold medallist is still a must-see attraction.
Any fight involving him generates huge interest, and alongside Fury, it’s a bout that would surely shatter box office records in Britain. Bellew believes that Joshua is more than worthy of an equal split.
“AJ is the biggest draw. If you’re going to be reasonable and say 50/50, it’d be crazy not to take it,” said Bellew when speaking to Talksport.
“At 60/40, I would be hesitant because you bring an awful lot to the table, probably more than the champion himself.
“Let’s just look at the pay-per-view sales and buys. Let’s look at the marketability that comes to the table when he’s involved. Why is AJ involved in every fight we want to see? Do you know why? Because he’s the most marketable and the biggest draw. That’s why we all want to see him.
“If AJ announced he’s fighting Wilder, do you think anyone cares about Fury-Usyk? If these two fight on the same night, who are you tuning in to watch? AJ-Wilder or Fury-Usyk? It’s great the way Fury has turned his life around, but you are not the draw that AJ is.”