Joshua vs Wilder at risk of being reincarnation of Lewis vs Bowe?

[James9753]

Will these two manage to get a fight sorted for 2019, or will all the drama and bs surrounding pre-fight negotiations lead this to be a repeat of what unfortunately happened between Bowe and Lewis?

[Enlightened-One]

Joshua vs Wilder at risk of being reincarnation of Lewis vs Bowe?

No. The risk is of this happening is either zero or negligible.

The demand for this bout is going to be allowed to increasingly build as time passes by (or "marinate", as Bob Arum might say.

The main stumbling block relates to the US TV networks.

I’m not sure if Showtime will allow their fighter compete on a rival network, such as DAZN.

When the financial demand for this bout has grown to preposterously huge levels, then both networks will inevitably work together to make this fight happen (as per the Mayweather-Pacquiao super-fight).

[James9753]

Joshua vs Wilder at risk of being reincarnation of Lewis vs Bowe?

No. The risk is of this happening is either zero or negligible.

The demand for this bout is going to be allowed to increasingly build as time passes by (or "marinate", as Bob Arum might say.

The main stumbling block relates to the US TV networks.

I’m not sure if Showtime will allow their fighter compete on a rival network, such as DAZN.

When the financial demand for this bout has grown to preposterously huge levels, then both networks will inevitably work together to make this fight happen (as per the Mayweather-Pacquiao super-fight).

Let us hope then that we get this fight signed, sealed and delivered asap though! Such a shame looking at the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight knowing that it should have happened a good 5/6 years prior to when it actually took place.

It's also frustrating that so much of the debate has circled around the percentage splits given to either fighter. There's no doubt that Joshua is the 'A-Side' in this bout. His commercial value coupled with his better resume and retention of all the major belts bar Wilder's does put him in the driving seat. I'm just not sure why there has to be such a stumbling block over how much each fighter is getting paid/what they're worth.

[Sequitorian]

... more like Godzilla vs Spiderman ...

[DrDuke]

If Fury wins Wilder, this fight won't be most wanted anyway. But I guess, it'll happen at some stage in any case.

[joshj909]

Does Wilder even have a contract with Showtime? i thought it was fight by fight and this (albeit vaguely) backed it up:

[Enlightened-One]

Does Wilder even have a contract with Showtime? i thought it was fight by fight and this (albeit vaguely) backed it up:

I don’t believe any of Al Haymon’s fighters actually have an exclusive contract with Showtime.

I believe that Al Haymon has some sort of deal or agreement in place with Showtime, but Deontay Wilder doesn’t actually have an exclusive contract with that TV network.

So by proxy of Haymon’s ties with Showtime, Wilder is kind of committed to fighting on that TV network, but he can technically compete on rival TV networks… if he really wanted to.

I believe that Eddie Hearn was actually trying to get Wilder to make the jump to DAZN, but Wilder apparently asked for more money.

If Fury wins Wilder, this fight won't be most wanted anyway. But I guess, it'll happen at some stage in any case.

If Fury beats Wilder in November/December, then there’ll inevitably be a rematch. This means that Joshua will likely perform a title defence against Dillian Whyte in April.