Boxing: Anthony Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn slams Deontay Wilder amid contract debacle
Tue Jun 26, 2018 02:58:pm Sports
4.2K By Obiaks Blog
Promoter Eddie Hearn has told Deontay Wilder "the game is up" and that Anthony Joshua intends to fight Alexander Povetkin in September.
Hearn is now pressing ahead with WBA-IBF-WBO world heavyweight champion Joshua fighting mandatory challenger Povetkin next, rather than Wilder after demands from the WBA.
The WBA told Joshua (21-0, 20 KOs), 28, from England, on Tuesday he must face Russian Povetkin (34-1, 24 KOs) "with immediate effect" after granting him an extra month to continue talks with Povetkin and Wilder but now the WBA have lost patience amid the negotiations.
"We have waited over a week for Wilder's comments on the contract and on Sunday and in the media we were told they will be back with their comments this Friday, nearly two weeks after it was sent," Hearn said via text message to ESPN.
"Who on earth waits nearly two weeks to get back regarding a fight they supposedly want so badly? With the WBA's position, the game is up for Deontay Wilder and we have to move forward with Povetkin.
"We are happy to sign the Wilder contract at moment they get their act together but I honestly can't tell you if that's five days or five years.
"The proof is in the resume: in just 22 fights Joshua would have faced Whyte, Breazeale, Klitschko, Takam, Parker and Povetkin. That's all you need to know."
September 15 and 22 have been mentioned as possible dates for Joshua's next fight, with venues in London [Wembley Stadium, Twickenham and the Olympic Stadium], Manchester [Old Trafford] and Cardiff [Principality Stadium] all being considered.
A fight against Wilder is now likely to be pushed back until 2019, presuming Joshua keeps his belts and Wilder defeats American Dominic Breazeale (19-1, 17 KOs), who he could now face next.
The WBA could strip Joshua of his belt if he does not fight Povetkin, 38, who knocked out England's David Price on the undercard of Joshua's last fight against Joseph Parker in March.
"Today the WBA requested an answer from Anthony Joshua's team regarding his fight with the mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin," said WBA president Gilberto Mendoza in a statement.
"The WBA have allowed over a month extension to negotiations with Povetkin and also ongoing discussions with Deontay Wilder.
"It appears the Wilder team have not returned the contract for the fight and therefore we are requesting a date for the Joshua versus Povetkin fight with immediate effect."
Wilder initially made a $50m [£37m] offer to Briton Joshua to make it happen in the States after Joshua's points win over New Zealander Parker to win the WBO belt in March.
But Joshua wants home advantage against Wilder after selling nearly 250,000 tickets for his last three fights: against Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in London, then further bouts at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.
Hearn made a counter offer to Wilder's camp, but claims he has not heard back from Wilder. Wilder's co-manager Shelly Finkel told ESPN on Monday that they wanted "small changes" to the contract with October or November planned for the unification fight in Cardiff.
Joshua, who lives in north London, has made five defences of the IBF title and two of the WBA belt after turning professional following his 2012 Olympic gold medal triumph. He has fought exclusively in the UK as a professional.
Wilder, from Alabama, made a seventh defence of the WBC title with a tenth round stoppage win over Cuba's Luis Ortiz in March. The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist had a first round knockout win over Audley Harrison in England in April 2013.
ESPN
Hearn is now pressing ahead with WBA-IBF-WBO world heavyweight champion Joshua fighting mandatory challenger Povetkin next, rather than Wilder after demands from the WBA.
The WBA told Joshua (21-0, 20 KOs), 28, from England, on Tuesday he must face Russian Povetkin (34-1, 24 KOs) "with immediate effect" after granting him an extra month to continue talks with Povetkin and Wilder but now the WBA have lost patience amid the negotiations.
"We have waited over a week for Wilder's comments on the contract and on Sunday and in the media we were told they will be back with their comments this Friday, nearly two weeks after it was sent," Hearn said via text message to ESPN.
"Who on earth waits nearly two weeks to get back regarding a fight they supposedly want so badly? With the WBA's position, the game is up for Deontay Wilder and we have to move forward with Povetkin.
"We are happy to sign the Wilder contract at moment they get their act together but I honestly can't tell you if that's five days or five years.
"The proof is in the resume: in just 22 fights Joshua would have faced Whyte, Breazeale, Klitschko, Takam, Parker and Povetkin. That's all you need to know."
September 15 and 22 have been mentioned as possible dates for Joshua's next fight, with venues in London [Wembley Stadium, Twickenham and the Olympic Stadium], Manchester [Old Trafford] and Cardiff [Principality Stadium] all being considered.
A fight against Wilder is now likely to be pushed back until 2019, presuming Joshua keeps his belts and Wilder defeats American Dominic Breazeale (19-1, 17 KOs), who he could now face next.
The WBA could strip Joshua of his belt if he does not fight Povetkin, 38, who knocked out England's David Price on the undercard of Joshua's last fight against Joseph Parker in March.
"Today the WBA requested an answer from Anthony Joshua's team regarding his fight with the mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin," said WBA president Gilberto Mendoza in a statement.
"The WBA have allowed over a month extension to negotiations with Povetkin and also ongoing discussions with Deontay Wilder.
"It appears the Wilder team have not returned the contract for the fight and therefore we are requesting a date for the Joshua versus Povetkin fight with immediate effect."
Wilder initially made a $50m [£37m] offer to Briton Joshua to make it happen in the States after Joshua's points win over New Zealander Parker to win the WBO belt in March.
But Joshua wants home advantage against Wilder after selling nearly 250,000 tickets for his last three fights: against Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in London, then further bouts at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.
Hearn made a counter offer to Wilder's camp, but claims he has not heard back from Wilder. Wilder's co-manager Shelly Finkel told ESPN on Monday that they wanted "small changes" to the contract with October or November planned for the unification fight in Cardiff.
Joshua, who lives in north London, has made five defences of the IBF title and two of the WBA belt after turning professional following his 2012 Olympic gold medal triumph. He has fought exclusively in the UK as a professional.
Wilder, from Alabama, made a seventh defence of the WBC title with a tenth round stoppage win over Cuba's Luis Ortiz in March. The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist had a first round knockout win over Audley Harrison in England in April 2013.
ESPN
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