BoxRec

UFC president Dana White announced his intention to expand his promotional interests into boxing last year and it appears as though he has his first target in site: unified heavyweight world titleholder Anthony Joshua.

White is making a bid to sign Joshua to a multi-fight deal that could be worth upward of $500 million, according to a report Wednesday in the United Kingdom's Daily Telegraph.

White plans to attend Joshua's world title unification fight with New Zealand's Joseph Parker (24-0, 18 KOs) on March 31 (Showtime, 5 p.m. ET) at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. While there, according to the report, he plans to meet with Joshua and his team.

However, Joshua remains under contract to Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn. Joshua and Hearn downplayed the report on Wednesday night.

Speaking on a conference call with boxing reporters to discuss the showdown with Parker, ESPN asked both of them about the Daily Telegraph report.

Joshua made it clear that, though he was open to doing business with UFC, he had no intention of leaving Hearn, who has promoted every one of his fights.

KiwiRider wrote: ↑22 Mar 2018, 14:03 I think they call that 'The Roach Approach'
You know, where someone gets an already great boxer, attaches their name to them, and make a career out of it.

marvelous marv wrote: ↑22 Mar 2018, 08:58 If AJ's contract with Hearn ends at the end of the year Hearn better make the Wilder fight in 2018.

KiwiRider wrote: ↑22 Mar 2018, 14:03 I think they call that 'The Roach Approach'
You know, where someone gets an already great boxer, attaches their name to them, and make a career out of it.

Kalan wrote: ↑22 Mar 2018, 04:43 Joshua is the most valuable property in Boxing... A lot of promoters are going to attempt to throw money at him in a bid to outflank Eddie Hearn.... But Hearn is doing a great job for Joshua and those efforts are going to be fruitless.

Kalan wrote: ↑22 Mar 2018, 20:28 Emanuel Steward made a career out of poaching great talent from other trainers.... "And here's my card Wladimir. Don't lose this please.. This is actually my personal line where you can reach me 24/7... About 5 people have this number... If I can ever help you with anything don't hesitate for a second to give me a call."

About a week later... "Oscar, I'm so glad I ran into you. I've been meaning to talk to you." ... But Steward would also drop you like a plate of cold spaghetti if a more promising fighter came along or if you weren’t hitting on all cylinders.

Best Coast wrote: ↑22 Mar 2018, 22:59

Kalan wrote: ↑22 Mar 2018, 20:28 Emanuel Steward made a career out of poaching great talent from other trainers.... "And here's my card Wladimir. Don't lose this please.. This is actually my personal line where you can reach me 24/7... About 5 people have this number... If I can ever help you with anything don't hesitate for a second to give me a call."

About a week later... "Oscar, I'm so glad I ran into you. I've been meaning to talk to you." ... But Steward would also drop you like a plate of cold spaghetti if a more promising fighter came along or if you weren’t hitting on all cylinders.

"Poaching great talent?!?"

Most fighters approach HIM. Steward essentially saved Wlad's imploding career!! If Wlad hadnt hooked up with Manny shortly after he was humiliated by 2nd/3rd-tier talent like Sanders/Brewster he NEVER would have developed the jab & grab strategy that allowed him to continue his title reign for another dozen years!!

The way you mischaracterize a legit HOF legend like Manny Steward really shows how emo-driven & shallow your boxing takes really are.

Kalan wrote: ↑23 Mar 2018, 01:27

Best Coast wrote: ↑22 Mar 2018, 22:59

Kalan wrote: ↑22 Mar 2018, 20:28 Emanuel Steward made a career out of poaching great talent from other trainers.... "And here's my card Wladimir. Don't lose this please.. This is actually my personal line where you can reach me 24/7... About 5 people have this number... If I can ever help you with anything don't hesitate for a second to give me a call."

About a week later... "Oscar, I'm so glad I ran into you. I've been meaning to talk to you." ... But Steward would also drop you like a plate of cold spaghetti if a more promising fighter came along or if you weren’t hitting on all cylinders.

"Poaching great talent?!?"

Most fighters approach HIM. Steward essentially saved Wlad's imploding career!! If Wlad hadnt hooked up with Manny shortly after he was humiliated by 2nd/3rd-tier talent like Sanders/Brewster he NEVER would have developed the jab & grab strategy that allowed him to continue his title reign for another dozen years!!

The way you mischaracterize a legit HOF legend like Manny Steward really shows how emo-driven & shallow your boxing takes really are.

You're full of crap moron... I always gave Steward credit for being one of the greatest trainers in History... I always gave him credit for turning Wladimir's career around... He DID let boxers know he was interested in coaching them, when they were with other trainers.... There are no sanctions in Boxing for this activity like there are in other sports... Boxers are fair game... If they're not under contract you can poach them... So it's not like Steward developed all his boxers from scratch.

Wlad learned a Hell of a lot more than jab and grab from Steward... The finished stance, guard, footwork, jab, right hand, left hook, and defense are all Steward's work... Wlad became a lot smoother and faster.

Best Coast wrote: ↑23 Mar 2018, 01:58

Kalan wrote: ↑23 Mar 2018, 01:27

Best Coast wrote: ↑22 Mar 2018, 22:59
"Poaching great talent?!?"

Most fighters approach HIM. Steward essentially saved Wlad's imploding career!! If Wlad hadnt hooked up with Manny shortly after he was humiliated by 2nd/3rd-tier talent like Sanders/Brewster he NEVER would have developed the jab & grab strategy that allowed him to continue his title reign for another dozen years!!

The way you mischaracterize a legit HOF legend like Manny Steward really shows how emo-driven & shallow your boxing takes really are.

You're full of crap moron... I always gave Steward credit for being one of the greatest trainers in History... I always gave him credit for turning Wladimir's career around... He DID let boxers know he was interested in coaching them, when they were with other trainers.... There are no sanctions in Boxing for this activity like there are in other sports... Boxers are fair game... If they're not under contract you can poach them... So it's not like Steward developed all his boxers from scratch.

Wlad learned a Hell of a lot more than jab and grab from Steward... The finished stance, guard, footwork, jab, right hand, left hook, and defense are all Steward's work... Wlad became a lot smoother and faster.

Suffice it to say that Steward saved Wlad's sinking career, which was steadily circling the drain after the embarrassments against pot-bellied golfer Sanders & 3rd-tier Brewster.

I lived in Motor City area when Kronk was on the rise and Steward's work with Hearns/Kenty/McCrory was so impressive that it allowed him to become a "hired gun" for established fighters like Chavez, Oscar, Hamed, etc. Manny didnt need to "poach" or pressure fighters to sign with him. His masterful reputation spoke for itself. They came to him for the most part.

I'll take your word for it that you have piled praise on Steward in the past, because I havent read any of your posts about him. But when you brand him a "poacher" that's when I'm compelled to challenge that nonsense.