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Home » EXCLUSIVE: Anthony Joshua needs PPV, isolated on DAZN – Bob Arum

EXCLUSIVE: Anthony Joshua needs PPV, isolated on DAZN – Bob Arum

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Bob Arum has warned unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua that he must sever ties with streaming service DAZN and look elsewhere to make a name for himself Stateside.

Joshua, who has so far failed to secure a fight with either Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury, makes his American debut against Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller on June 1 in New York.

And despite his superstar status on the other side of the pond, Arum believes Joshua is set to miss out on the big bucks due to his allegiance to Eddie Hearn.

“You have to understand what’s happening now. Eddie Hearn has put Joshua in the position in where because of his ties to DAZN, which isn’t involved in PPV but has streaming networks, has isolated him,” Arum exclusively told World Boxing News.

“Eddie has really isolated Joshua. The only way Joshua can now fight is on DAZN. Therefore, the amounts paid are really artificial because it’s just a company like DAZN just throwing money at it.

“On the other hand, Wilder and Fury will end up fighting on PPV. Any other PPV fights in the future for either Wilder or Fury, it’s the public that’ll be deciding how to support the fight by paying the fee.

“Joshua is completely isolated because he has in effect, been captured and rolled into this DAZN arrangement. This frankly inhibits his ability to make major fights and his ability to really become a factor. He’s fighting in the US against Miller but it’s on DAZN. Nobody has DAZN.”


WAKE-UP

Arum also dropped a bombshell in admitting his interest in signing ‘AJ’ if his team decide ‘wake up.’

“I think Joshua has been used. Joshua and his people should wake up and really join the world. He should finish up his contract with Hearn and join us.

“Whether it’s Top Rank, ESPN or PBC to join us and join the fun.

“It makes no sense (staying with DAZN). It makes no sense to deprive him of PPV. If he fights in the UK, he can’t turn that into PPV dollars in the United States. That’s because of the difference in time.

“He’s fighting in the evening prime time in the UK and that’s afternoon in the United States. You can’t do PPV and make it work in the United States on a Saturday afternoon.

“Joshua is really in a bad position here because of his ties with Hearn and his commitment to DAZN,” concluded the long-time promoter.