BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT Anthony Joshua needs to fight in the United States to raise his profile in boxing’s biggest market, according to Bob Arum.
The unbeaten Joshua – who is the reigning IBF, WBA and WBO champion – is a huge draw on home soil, with his last four bouts split between the Principality Stadium in Cardiff and Wembley.
Yet the 29-year-old has yet to fight in front of an American audience in his professional career, something Top Rank boss Arum feels must change if he wants to be considered the biggest name in the division.
The renowned promoter – who worked with legendary heavyweights Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in the early stages of his career – feels Tyson Fury sits top of the pile in the US, his stock boosted following the split-decision draw against Deontay Wilder in December.
“In the US if you ask people who the number one heavyweight is, I think many people will say Tyson Fury,” he said when appearing on BBC Radio 5 live show Boxing with Costello and Bunce.
Later during the interview, Arum added: “He [Joshua] needs really desperately to come to fight in the United States.
“And I say that not because I’m an American, I say that because, economically, the US market is still the most important, because the pay-per-view in the United States has the potential of 200 million, 150 million homes.”
Joshua is next booked to fight at Wembley again on 13 April, though it is not yet known who will be in the opposite corner.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has a quartet of names in the frame – Fury, Wilder, Jarrell Miller and Dillian Whyte – and admits negotiations have been a “little bit frustrating”, albeit all four options remain on the table.
“We’ve got 13 April on lockdown – AJ is training now for 13 April, just to make sure if that comes about he is ready. That’s our preference, that’s what we want to do,” Hearn told Sky Sports.
“Obviously we need an opponent. I feel like we’ve made a number of good offers to several of the world-ranked fighters and other champions. Some of those don’t think we’ve made particularly good offers.
“It depends really also what value they put on winning a world title, or unifying four of the belts in the division. It’s a little bit frustrating, but everything is in play right now.
“Wilder, Fury, Whyte and Miller – they are the four it could be. Any one of those can step up and take the fight.”
When can we start talking about Conor Mcgregor???
@Michael Kearney: be careful. You’ll get slated for casting judgement even though….everyone knows….like in other scenarios mentioned here.
@Michael Kearney: actually you won’t. Because one is perceived by many to be squeeky clean while the other was hated by many from the start
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: The feminist is back
@Jon Walters: and I’ve got my mangina in a right twist! Are you in the pro or anti McGregor camp then, Jon?
@samstheman: I know you did, sam. Need to let it breath or it gets shtinky. What about yourself? You rush to defend any man in any situation because of your own insecurities. You a McGregor man or no?
@samstheman: you’re a lot less emotional than you usually are. Something must be going right for you. I’m happy for you.
@samstheman: just given your stance on female related articles on the main journal page searching for agendas that don’t exist and not liking ppls responses when challenged. Glad you are becoming less biased. We may have diametrically opposing views on certain issues but we surely agree that McGregor is a scümbag?
@samstheman: I say that as someone who followed his career since his ufc debut and an immature owner of several fanboy dethrone t-shirts
@samstheman: well sport and real life often overlap as is the case here. You didn’t have to comment and engage in discussion but you chose to so I’m seeking your opinion. You’re as opinionated as I am so why don’t you want to give a judgement of McGregor’s character? It’s plain to see for everyone that he’s a scümbag. Why don’t you have an opinion?
@samstheman: riiiiiight! So basically you can make throwaway comments and snide remarks elsewhere but can’t admit that McGregor is utter scüm even just based off of this carry on in the media for everyone to see when it’s starting at u in the face. I’d call that hypocracy.
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: Jesus leave it alone. Why did you even bring McGregor up? This is about AJ dodging big fights nothing to do with that shithead
@Co: I didn’t bring it up. Your man above is itching to talk about it as others are I’m sure. And Sam decided to have a go at me. If I’m challenged then I’ll fight back. Simple.
@samstheman: dude, don’t misconstrue my views on equal rights for feminazi as you said before. You shouting me down as a feminist repeatedly shows your worldview. When I gave my views on feminism then you went silent highlighting your ignorance on the topic. And it’s laughable you thinking I search for things to be offended by when you’re the very definition of a snowflake yourself, latching on to any article that you perceive to be man hating when it simply doesn’t apply. You’ve a bone to pick with feminism and you’ve decided that I’m that bone. You suggesting I’m some sort of bandwagoner is ridiculous. As you said, this is a sports forum so I’m not going to get a lot of fans here for this. And I’m sorry if it’s painful for some to read but I was taught to stand up for yourself and your morals. This eejit sam looks to have a dig when possible so I’m going to have one back. It’s at least some afternoon entertainment for some ppl.
@samstheman: go on then, you sad little man.
@samstheman: How’s that search comin along? Can’t find it because it doesn’t exist….maybe in your head. Simply playing to the audience. Some might say a bandwagoner. Talk to u next time my opinion offends you.
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: shut up gimp ffs
When Joshua is easily filling Wembley and there isn’t a decent crowd for any heavyweight in the US it’s American that needs AJ not the other way round.
@Bungee Aky: Not really the PPV money in the UK is worth about 30million for his largest fight 1.5million buys, in the states he’d probably have 20-30million buys so probably over 100million! His probably is Eddie is afraid his cash cow could lose in the states
@Bungee Aky: still be interesting to see him venture out there, depending on the opponent, it’ll be a good test run for the Wilder fight surely. Had to scroll to the bottom of the page for the 1st comment about the actual article, Bruce van der gimp has it tarnished!
@Pat Tobin: your so far off the mark. Wilder earned est 14mil from the fury fight and has career earnings Before are around 25mil. AJ did 20mil Sterling for his last fight and 70million to date. The money isn’t in the USA like it was before. If AJ wants the big paydays he can earn them in the UK, travelling to promote a fight might not be worth what they would make having it in Wembley.
@Now or Never: the effort it would take to promote a fight might well not be worth it. Heavyweight boxing has died a death in the USA with only wilder as a credible opponent.
America is not the centre of the Universe, Joshua seems to be earning a living without it.