By Chris Williams: Max Kellerman of ESPN says Deontay Wilder has been given step aside money so that Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua can fight two-times in 2021.
Kellerman maintains that former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs) is being given money, just that he’ll wait. He has a contractual rematch with Fury, and it’s gone to arbitration due to Tyson choosing to face Joshua.
What Kellerman says about Wilder getting step aside green makes sense because Fury has no intentions of fighting him now.
With Wilder’s contractual rematch, Fury should be fighting him again, but everything has gone quiet. So what does that tell you? Kellerman must know something about this step aside deal.
If it is $5 million to $10 million that Wilder is getting to step aside, that explains why he’s not making noise about his rematch.
Chris Williams can’t help but notice how Wilder has stepped asking for his rematch with Fury. Why else would he do that unless he was given step aside money?
Kellerman says Wilder getting step aside money
“Don’t look too much in the contracts because Deontay Wilder has got to be getting paid to step aside,” said Max Kellerman to ESPN. “When you get step aside money when you’re next with a contract, it ain’t hundred grand.
“It’s five to ten million dollars. So, Deontay is getting money just for waiting,” said Kellerman.
“He can punch but he lost to Andy Ruiz, who is pretty damn good,” said Stephen A. Smith about Joshua. “I don’t like how he looks, but he’s pretty damn good, okay.
“I wish him nothing but the best because he can really, really fight. Let me say, I don’t like the fact that this is a two-fight deal [between Joshua and Fury],” said Smith.
It looks bad the way Joshua and Fury are tying up all four heavyweight world titles for all of 2021 with their two-fight deal.
Can you imagine an NFL team telling the league and the fans that they’re only going to play one team for the entire year? That wouldn’t fly with the league, and it shouldn’t be that way in boxing.
Wilder deserves Joshua vs. Fury winner
“Now, if Tyson Fury were to lose to Anthony Joshua, I have no problems with the mandatory rematch,” said Stephen A. Smith. “But I believe if Anthony Joshua were to lose, I believe Deontay Wilder deserves the winner.
“I’ve talked privately to Deontay Wilder about this, and I’m not going to reveal all that. But I had a conversation, and I’ll tell you this.
“I have no problems with Tyson Fury sitting there and saying, ‘I’m going to fight Joshua because it’s a big fight.’ I will say this on behalf of Deontay Wilder.
“When Tyson Fury was down in the dumps and nothing was going on in his life, Deontay Wilder gave him that shot and it came to a draw.
“And in the second fight, he beat him up pretty badly and was 40 lbs heavier and all this other stuff. I personally think Deontay Wilder deserves a trilogy, but I have no problems with you suggesting that he needs to wait,” said Smith.
“Beat someone else. No one believes he’s going to beat Fury in a rubber match,” said Max Kellerman in justifying Fury choosing not to fight Wilder again. “You’ve got to beat someone.”
“But everyone believes one punch can take out Anthony Joshua, and I don’t think Deontay Wilder should have to wait,” said Smith. “If Anthony Joshua beats Tyson Fury, I think Wilder should get the winner.”
For sure, Wilder deserves to fight the Joshua vs. Fury fight winner, regardless of which one wins. If Joshua wins, he should fight Wilder and let Fury stand on the sidelines waiting his turn to face the winner. It’s only fair.
Joshua-Fury NOT the biggest fight in boxing
“Hell to the no,” said Smith when asked if Fury-Joshua should be considered the biggest fight in combat sports. “Absolutely not. I like the fight, it’s a big fight.
“I appreciate it because Anthony Joshua can box and punch, and we all know Fury is the best boxer in the heavyweight division.
“I don’t think there’s any debate about that. He’s the best boxer in the heavyweight division, but I question his punching power. Yeah, you can beat up people when your 40 pounds heavier than them.
“That would be the case with Anthony Joshua, even though I question his chin, but we shall see,” said Smith.
Of course, Joshua vs. Fury isn’t the biggest fight in boxing, but it is the #1 in the UK. That match-up is huge for the United Kingdom, but not for the entire boxing world.
As Stephen A. Smith believes, Errol Spence Jr vs. Terence Crawford is the biggest fight in boxing, and it has to be made. Those two are big names worldwide, not just in one country like Joshua and Fury.