He seemed pretty confident in an interview recently that it will get made for January, sounded like it wasn't far off being agreed
Fighting in a half empty arena, sticking it out and getting booed possibly does effect commercial value
AJ will never fight Wilder .... he could have a few years ago and bottled it,I'm surprised Wilders team even speak to Hearn now after all the messing around they did before... It kinda sells AJs fights these days though doesn't it? Oh when he beats Franklin we want Wilder ,oh when he beats Whyte we want Fury ,oh if he comes past big Hellainius it's Wilder in Saudi etc etc ...they've been doing it for years...
Amazing what rich Saudi middle men can do though. However it sounds like whatever deal Wilder will do with the Saudis, AJ might not manage one.
Think if it does happen it lands on Sky. Which is funny if Joshua gets knocked out and retires after, that his two fights on this big deal with DAZN was two bums in Franklin and Helenius.
Well this must mean AJ is fighting a tomato can in November then… Each time AJ mentions Usyk, Fury and Wilder it’s a dead cert that he’s having a runout with someone.
Anyone still has doubts or blames Fury for this event not happening the last year? A few months ago the Saudis were telling that "the offers will be soon with the fighters" and won't be negotiable. Now it is the Saudis again who are not capable of making it for December and it's questionable will they ever be (moving it from 2022 to eventually 2024 means they aren't trustworthy). Those people polluted the sport with empty promises, making the fighters wait for their big money.
It can't be done till march all the talk is so that means another fight for aj, a fight for wilder and uysk getting another cycle in. Honestly I can see this turning into fury vs uysk in March somewhere and aj vs joyce/dubois or possibly hrgovic around then and a fury vs aj fight at Wembley late summer. Nothing else males financial sense sadly.
That’s hardly a surprise is it. Why would they want to pay top dollar to Joshua after his last 2 crappy performances. It’s boring and no one cares. He’s had his day.
Taking a step back, given Wilder isn't exactly a big mainstream star in the US compared to past top heavyweights, and the other three aren't exactly household names outside Europe either, is this just not the big event some of us make out? Fury-Usyk is a huge fight but it wouldn't draw flies in the US. AJ-Wilder might do a bit better because of potential knockouts but it's not Tyson-Holyfield. Maybe the Saudis are thinking this event doesn't have the prestige they want and isn't worth paying crazy money for?
My assessment of the situation is that Joshua vs Wilder has always been unlikely, if there wasn’t enough will to make the fight in the past, then why would there be now. Hearn is trying to maintain interest in Joshua’s career until he can pick up another belt. Wilder on the other hand doesn’t look like he wants to fight anymore, he looks retired to me, but he seems to escape criticism for his own lack of will to make the fight. As for Fury vs Usyk, I said when Usyk moved up to heavyweight that Fury will never fight him.
