Deontay Wilder is reportedly demanding $10 million to step aside and allow Tyson Fury to lock horns with Anthony Joshua for the undisputed heavyweight title.
The Bronze Bomber suffered his first professional defeat against Fury back in February, with trainer Mark Breland throwing in the towel after seven rounds at the MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas.
Since Fury’s emphatic victory, which handed him the WBC heavyweight crown, talk has surfaced of a potential undisputed showdown with unified champion and British rival Joshua.
But following his decision to exercise a rematch clause with the Gypsy King, Wilder would first need to step aside for that dream domestic matchup to go ahead.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn insists the American will not be doing so, while Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has voiced the same opinion.
According to The Athletic, though, Wilder would be prepared to accept a step-aside offer of $10 million.
He is also seeking a guarantee for the winner of any potential undisputed battle between Joshua and Fury to face him next.
An unnamed source was quoted as saying: “Deontay would have to get the winner guaranteed in the deal, but if he can swing that, he’d actually be stupid to not take the $10 million to not fight.
“That’d be a record step-aside fee, by far. I’d take that deal so fast and go fight a hopeless guy like Travis Kauffman.”
As well as Wilder, Joshua’s mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev would need to agree to step aside for his proposed clash with Fury to go ahead.
Pulev, who has been scheduled to face AJ on two separate occasions, saw his June 20 shot at the Olympic champion fall through as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Yet the Bulgarian has previously suggested he would step aside for the right amount of money.
“I am ready for this fight against Joshua, so I don’t know. Nobody knows. I want this fight,” he said.
“When somebody comes to me and tells me something and offers me something, maybe. I don’t know, but I want this fight.”