By Chris Williams: WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder revealed that he’s in negotiations with DAZN to hear offers from them about him possibly signing with them, but he’s not involving Matchroom Boxing USA promoter Eddie Hearn in the talks. Wilder, 33, says SHOWTIME is still in the picture as far whether he stays with them or goes to a different network platform.
Wilder states that if he does leave Showtime, it’ll only be for a “little bit.”
Wilder says he wants nothing to do with Hearn, who he feels has burned bridges with him, and he’s not someone that gets things done. Wilder (40-0-1, 39 KOs) lacks confidence in Hearn.
“I love Showtime. This is not farewell, it’s only goodbye for a little bit. I’m going to hear them out first and foremost,” Wilder said to Thaboxingvoice. “My ears are still open to a lot of offers. I’m going to make the best decision for myself and my family and my career.”
It might be difficult for Wilder go return to Showtime if he’s getting more money from DAZN. Of course, if Wilder’s career tanks with him losing fights, it might be an issue. Wilder will be stepping into the unknown if he signs a contract with DAZN. They’re going to expect Wilder to fight IBF/WBA/WBO champion Anthony Joshua, and that’s truly a 50-50 proposition. Either of those guys could emerge as the winner. There will be two fights between them, the loser of the first contest will have a shot at avenging their loss in the second fight.
What could be bad is if Wilder or Joshua lose both fights. That’s going to going to hurt their career. If it’s Wilder, and he’s only signed with DAZN for three fights, then it’ll take him to the end of his three-fight contract with them. Do they re-sign Wilder at that point or shake his hand, and wish him the best? Having Showtime as a fall back if things turn bleak for Wilder is a good thing, but it’s unknown if he’ll still getting the same money when he returns with them if he’s coming back having lost two out of his last three fights on DAZN. Wilder has the chance to shape his destiny. That’s the beauty of it. If Wilder destroys Dominic Breazeale on May 18, and then turns around and smashes Joshua in consecutive fights, the world will be his. Wilder will then he able to negotiate a new contract with DAZN or SHOWTIME, and make massive money. From there, it’s all gravy.
“As far as negotiations, it’ll never be him, that’s for sure,” Wilder said about Eddie Hearn not being involved in his negotiations with DAZN. “We’re here to get the job done. I’ll never get done with him. We don’t want no parts of Eddie. I don’t want no part of him. We don’t need him to reach out to me or call me. It’s done. You don’t burn bridges. You don’t come into this sport calling people, ‘Shirley,’ trying to talk about where people from,” Wilder said.
No one ever expected that Wilder would use Hearn as the go between to negotiate a deal with DAZN. Wilder is said to to be meeting with DAZN executive John Skipper next week with his co-managers to possibly work a deal with them. It’ll be interesting to see if Wilder signs with DAZN. But just because Wilder signs with them, it doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy from that point. Signing with DAZN is going to Wilder in the position where he’s going to need to earn his keep by beating the always tough 6’7″ 2012 Olympian Dominic Breazeale (20-1 18 KOs), and then possibly Joshua in consecutive fights after that. Those are three very hard fights for Wilder, who was out-boxed for long stretches during his last fight against Tyson Fury. If Wilder doesn’t fight better than that against Breazeale and Joshua, he’ll lose to those guys, and his career will suffer mightily. You wouldn’t be able to call Wilder a flash in the pan if he gets beaten by those guys, but you could argue that he would be seen as someone that is past it. On the bright side, Wilder would make a lot of money from the DAZN contract, so it wouldn’t be all bad for him.
“Dominic Breazeale will be the next opponent,” Wilder said in confirming that he’ll be defending against his WBC mandatory next. “I’m going to knock him off the planet. We got bad blood. The only way to settle it is in the ring. I’m going to get this fly out of my ear so I can move on with my career.”
Wilder is going to have to get to Breazeale quickly on May 18, because if he lets him get any kind of momentum, he may score a knockout. Breazeale has respectable power, and he fights better when the crowd is cheering loudly. Wilder may need to dig deep if he wants to win this fight. Against Fury Wilder looked arm weary and tired in a lot of the rounds, particularly the 12th after he knocked him down. Wilder can’t afford to get tired against Breazeale, as he’ll jump on him and take advantage of his weariness.
“I’ve always proved to the world that I’m the best,” Wilder said. “It seem like all the other guys don’t have the same agenda as I do. Nobody wants to really see who’s the best in this generation. Sometimes you have to take the big risk with the low rewards. I did that with Luis Ortiz. Now it’s time for me to get my just do, and to look out for myself and get what I deserve. I’m the baddest man on the planet. I’m the key to the division. When the smoke clears, I’m going to be the only one standing. I guarantee you that. We got so much stuff going on. We’re going to make sure the best things happen for Deontay Wilder.
Wilder doesn’t have the greatest resume. He obviously hasn’t always proven he’s the best in the heavyweight division, but that’s not his fault. Wilder isn’t the one that makes his fights. That’s his management’s job. The only names that stand out on Wilder’s long 11-year pro resume are Tyson Fury and Luis ‘King Kong’ Ortiz. The Cuban fighter ‘King Kong’ was old at 38 when he fought Wilder, and yet he still almost beat him. The rest of the guys that Wilder has fought have been beatable guys like Eric Molina, Bermane Stivern, Artur Szpilka, Gerald Washington, Johann Duhaupas, Jason Gavern, Chris Arreola and Malik Scott.
“Al Haymon will be with me until the end of my career,” Wilder said. “I want all the smoke.”
