Wilder demands huge payout to step aside for Fury vs Joshua bout
Deontay Wilder reportedly wants a huge payout – likely to the tune of $10million (£8.1m) – and a guarantee he will face the winner of Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua in order to step aside from his third fight with Fury.
Wilder was overwhelmed by Fury in Las Vegas in their second fight but a clause in their contract ensured a third bout was on the table for the previously undefeated heavyweight champion.
The result meant Fury – who is yet to suffer a professional loss – and Joshua – who avenged his only defeat to Andy Ruiz – hold all the heavyweight belts.
An all-British unification bout has been the talk of the town ever since but Wilder and Kubrat Pulev – who was scheduled to fight Joshua in June before the coronavirus pandemic brought the sporting world to a grinding halt – need to step aside before the fight can get ahead.
Pulev has previously admitted he would entertain a step-aside offer in order to make that happen and, according to The Athletic, Wilder will also be willing to consider a proposal. But he wants a record $10m and the chance to fight the winner of Joshua and Fury’s mega-money bout.
One manager told The Athletic that Wilder would be ‘stupid’ to not accept that deal if it is put on the table.
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‘Deontay would have to get the (Fury-Joshua) winner guaranteed in the deal, but if he can swing that, he’d actually be stupid to not take the $10 million to not fight,’ the unnamed source said.
‘That’d be a record step-aside fee, by far. I’d take that deal so fast and go fight a hopeless guy like Travis Kauffman.’