Deontay Wilder reveals huge amount Anthony Joshua turned down with boxing showdown in limbo
Boxing news: Deontay Wilder has accused Anthony Joshua of dodging a fight
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Deontay Wilder has claimed Anthony Joshua turned down a massive £40million in order to fight him.
The duo have long been in negotiations to step into the ring together, with talks first opened all the way back in 2015.
Wilder and Joshua are due to fight on December 23 in Saudi Arabia as a result of the decision to delay Tyson Fury's bout with Oleksandr Usyk.
Yet they won't be going up against each other.
Boxing news: Deontay Wilder is still hopeful over a bout with Anthony Joshua
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Joshua is due to go up against Otto Wallin instead, with Wilder scheduled to face off with Joseph Parker.
And Wilder, speaking to the Daily Mail, has insisted Joshua is to blame for their fight never happening.
"He asked for $50million (£40m) and we provided that for him and he did not take it," he said.
"And the only way you can disregard that is to make a mockery of it, try to make a joke of it, try to make it seem to the public that it's not real."
Wilder also accused Matchroom Boxing of ensuring the fight doesn't take place.
"It's a deflection," he added.
"It's an 'oh s*** moment'. They came up with $50m. That's why they don't have Joshua speaking a lot on his own behalf and if he does speak he always slips up and says things that are not appealing to his people.
"And they have to play clean up.
"It's his management that have held him back from fighting me because, you know, he's a fighter.
"It's been over six years (waiting for the fight to be made). But there comes a point in time we're you're like, 'Forget it'.
"Many times he wanted to fight, he wanted to accept it but his handlers didn't want it because Joshua is the money-maker for the company.
"And if he goes down, so does the business."
Speaking after Wilder's fight with Parker was announced, the American wished Joshua well amid hopes both men will come through their respective fights unscathed.
"It is good to be in the same room with him, to see him face to face, it has been a long time coming," said the 38-year-old.
"I wish him nothing but the best and hopefully soon we can give the people what we want and get it on in the ring.
"I believe it is going to happen, it is about that time.
"But even if it doesn't, I wish him nothing but the best."
Wallin, meanwhile, thinks Joshua is a man past his best as their fight creeps closer.
"Getting this fight, I am so ready for it, I have been waiting for it for a long time," he said.
"I think we both have a good idea of each other. Joshua had his peak maybe around 2018, he deserves a lot of respect, he has come from humble beginnings.
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"Now I feel like he is on his way down, on his way out, and I am going to help him and win this fight."
Joshua, however, has scoffed at that idea.
"People talking about how I have peaked have never seen a peak in their whole career, so I don't know what they are talking about," he stated.
"I can't predict the future but I know where I want to go, I know what I want to do.
"I am a man of my word, I stick with what I believe, and I believe I am going to be three-time champion of the world."