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Boxing

Deontay Wilder exposes the multi-million dollar offer Anthony Joshua turned down for megafight

Deontay Wilder exposes the multi-million dollar offer Anthony Joshua turned down for megafightDAZN
The former WBC world heavyweight champion returns to action on December 23.

Former WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has taken aim at Anthony Joshua and his team after revealing that the British star's camp turned down a huge offer to face the "Bronze Bomber" in 2018. 

After being out of the ring for 13 months, Wilder will lace up the gloves for the first time in 2023 when he takes on former WBO title holder Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia on December 23. 

This event in Riyadh is arguably the biggest fight card put together with Anthony Joshua also on the bill against Otto Wallin. 

If Wilder and Joshua win their respective fights, then fans will be hoping a deal can be made for the two to meet in the ring and settle one of the biggest rivalries in boxing. 

There have been numerous times where Wilder and Joshua have been close to making a fight against each other and now the American has pulled back the curtain on these negotiations. 

"He asked for $50million (£40m) and we provided that for him and he did not take it," Wilder told The Daily Mail when reflecting on past meetings with Joshua and his team. 

"And the only way you can disregard that is to make a mockery of it, try to make a joke of it, try to make it seem to the public that it's not real."

Wilder then went onto claim that it is not Joshua, but his management which are making it difficult for this much desired heavyweight matchup to take place. 

"It's an 'oh s—t moment'. They came up with $50m. That's why they don't have Joshua speaking a lot on his own behalf and if he does speak he always slips up and says things that are not appealing to his people. And they have to play clean up," Wilder continued. 

"It's his management that have held him back from fighting me because, you know, he's a fighter. It's been over six years (waiting for the fight to be made). But there comes a point in time we're you're like, 'Forget it'.

"Many times he wanted to fight, he wanted to accept it but his handlers didn't want it because Joshua is the money-maker for the company. And if he goes down, so does the business."

 

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