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Home » Hearn: If Wilder offered $50m plus UK, Joshua would have signed

Hearn: If Wilder offered $50m plus UK, Joshua would have signed

Wilder laid a massive $50m deal on the table for Joshua to travel to the United States for an undisputed heavyweight unification – but after some consideration, the Briton decided against accepting.

Hearn has since explained that if the same contract was presented with Joshua gaining home advantage, Wilder would have a solid agreement on his hands.

“AJ will have to take a pay cut to fight in the UK and I don’t think he’s that bothered,” Hearn told Telegraph Sport.

The offer that they made, if that was open to a UK fight, we would have signed immediately. But obviously, they want to pay the money to get AJ to Wilder’s backyard.

“At the moment we’re all still talking and communication continues. But there is a feeling from our camp this undisputed fight should be in the UK.

“Rob who is trainer, manager and an ex-fighter, knows the advantage of being at home.

“AJ genuinely loves fighting in the UK. He knows there has never been an undisputed fight before, he was the first unification fight in Britain in the heavyweight division.

“So to do an undisputed heavyweight unification fight in the UK, would be historic. But whether Wilder’s team feel the same, like I said, those talks are ongoing.

“But that’s the general feeling from AJ and Rob,” he added.

Reports from the United States have gone quiet since the admission by ‘AJ’, although WBN understands Wilder would come to England if the money was right.

There’s no way Hearn could match what effectively is a 37 million pound paycheck on the Wilder side, although a decent slice of the pie – along with a US rematch clause – should still be enough to get the fight on.

In a strange twist, Sky Head of Boxing Adam Smith revealed on Tuesday that Joshua could still head stateside if Wilder and mandatory Alexander Povetkin bouts couldn’t be agreed.

American contender Jarrell Miller, who is signed to Matchroom USA, would be the opponent for an August or September outing.