By Tim Parsons-
Deontey Wilder, the WBC heavyweight belt holder, has has turned down $100 million in a show of loyalty with Showtime. The American who is due to face WBC mandatory Dominic Breazeale for his mandatory on May 18 was offered an attractive four fight deal that would have seen the American stage his fight against Breazeale on DAZN, before meeting Britain’s Dillian Whyte in a big fight that would have then put the American on a collision course with Anthony Joshua for a two fight contract.
Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, were looking forward to the big opportunity for the long awaited clash with Wilder towards the end of the year, but the American has turned down the offer to stick with Showtime.
Showtime are apparently preparing to make the unbeaten WBC champion an offer to stick with them , and the powerful American and his team have chosen to stick with showtime. Wilder was frustrated in 2018 when he chased for a fight with Anthony Joshua, who holds most of the belts, but was unable to get the fight going , even after an offer of $50m.
Tyson Fury stepped in Joshua’s place, and almost beat the big punching American on points until the gypsy king flawed him twice, resulting in a draw in the end. A rematch was very much on the cards, but U.S promoter, Bob Arum changed all that when he intervened an offered Fury an irresistible £80m contract for four fights.Wilder has since called Fury a coward for allowing their rematch to slip away, but Arum has promised to secure the rematch between the pair by the end of the year after their profiles are built further in America.
Representatives of Dazn met with Wilder to discuss the proposed deal, but the American turned it down. having met with the Bronze Bomber and his co-managers, Shelly Finkel and Al Haymon, in New York on Tuesday. DAZN offered Wilder $20m (£15m) to fight mandatory challenger Breazeale, and $80m (£60m) for two fights against Joshua later in the year and at the start of 2020.
It is not clear whether Wilder has rejected the offer in order to leave the door open to his originally scheduled rematch with Tyson Fury later in the year under plans recently announced by Bob Arum.