DEONTAY WILDER’S former co-promoter Lou DiBella claimed he was fired by the WBC champion for trying to set up a fight with Anthony Joshua.
The Bronze Bomber worked with DiBella and Shelly Finkel after he left Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and linked up with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions stable in 2015.
Lou DiBella, far right, claims Deontay Wilder sacked him as he tired to make the Anthony Joshua fightCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Finkel remains in a managerial role with WBC champion Wilder while DiBella previously took charge of promotional duties.
But after Wilder’s draw with Tyson Fury in 2018, DiBella claims he attempted to put together negotiations for an undisputed title clash between his client and Anthony Joshua.
The meeting was with the WBC champion’s team and DAZN chief John Skipper – but the Bronze Bomber was offered a deal that would see him leave Haymon’s broadcasters Showtime and Fox.
For setting up the meeting, DiBella told iFL TV it cost him his job working with Wilder.
The promoter said: “My relationship professionally as a promoter for Deontay Wilder and working with his team ended when I set up the DAZN meeting, which is perverse.
“What did I do? I tried to talk to everyone in the marketplace and make a best effort to make the most money for a guy that I cared about.
“Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?”
Joshua – who has been accused of avoiding a fight with Wilder – claimed the “truth shall prevail” seemingly using DiBella’s comments to suggest he was not the fighter swerving the bout.
The American declined a proposed three-fight deal made by Joshua’s US broadcasters DAZN with the WBC king later recording wins against Dominic Breazeale and Luis Ortiz, on Showtime and then Fox.
He will now rematch Fury on February 22 in a joint pay-per-view with Fox and ESPN, the TV company aligned to the Gyspy King’s US promotion Top Rank.
The rivals are already signed to a third fight, but Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed he will offer the winner the chance to ditch the trilogy and face AJ in a mega-money unification clash.
Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury will NOT take place in the UK as Saudi Arabia offer twice the money, says promoter Eddie Hearn
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
