i see this "100 million dollar fight" lol Um no. AJ vs Wilder isnt going to be much bigger than AJ vs Parker So... 12.5 million of a likely 50 million dollar fight is 25 percent, more or less (including network fees) I mean, Wilder needs to push for the most he can get. But Wilder is the older boxer, hes the definite B side. He gonna have to bow to AJ wishes. AJ can stall him out longer to his benefit. Plus, either fighter risks losing to a Povetkin/Miller type fighter. Hopefully they make the fight in 2019. As for who is stalling, at this point I have to say AJ as he can offer 33 percent, similar to what Parker got. However, the Wilder demand that AJ take the same split in a rematch in the event of a Wilder win is utter nonsense. Wilder cant draw more than a few million to a fight. In a rematch it will still be AJ fans that SHOW UP and pay. Not wilder fans
I wouldnt be suprised if both parties are purposely prolonging the fight and putting up this charade of "he's ducking...no he's ducking". Mayweather vs Pacman made millions because they just dragged it on for years which built and heightened interest for that fight. This talk of pricing himself out is a good way to distract the fans if prolonging the fight for greater profitability is indeed their hidden agenda.
Wilder will sign the contract. I'm sure of it. Eddie's got the upper hand here and he knows it. Wilder and his team have to accept the contract, if they stall, Eddie will just shut them off and focus elsewhere. And Eddie knows, so he will threaten them with that prospect if things aren't going his way. He knows they have to sign it, regardless of how good the deal is, because wilder knows that he won't get that kind of money anywhere else. Eddie will just try and keep the numbers for wilder's side low, and they will either accept that or they won't. The UK have control for once, and it's refreshing.
Remains to be seen. Don't really buy that either is ducking the other, but can understand Wilder trying to get as much money out of it as he can, even if I do think that's not far off a fair offer. In Joshua's case, a loss doesn't mean he won't earn big money again - because he will still earn big money when he's on the comeback. In Wilder's case, however, a loss here basically makes this a cash-out fight - he doesn't have the core support to fallback on and even his current purse level will be difficult to sustain in future fights, so he's right to get that big money.
Joshua is the number 1 fighter. If Wilder clamours to be the best he has to go through Joshua. Money, purse, blah blah blah.