The Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder negotiations have been dragging on for over a year now, and depending on who you believe, could be attributed to either man’s team.
From Wilder’s perspective, his side say Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn were offered a huge deal of around $50 million to unify the titles inside the ring somewhere in America, only for Hearn to scupper the negotiations with unreasonable demands. For Joshua and Hearn, the issue comes in the fact Wilder’s team refuse to communicate about their desires, and have even gone back on previous agreements.
And today on social media, the two sides went to war. On one side, Hearn. On the other, Showtime Sports executive Stephen Espinoza.
It started with Espinoza telling a fan that Hearn had been presented with a contract for Joshua to fight Wilder, and that the contract in question even allowed the broadcasting rights Hearn wanted in the deal. In response, Hearn accused Espinoza directly of lying.
Contract was sent and Matchroom saw it. Contract said Sky got the UK rights.
— Stephen Espinoza (@StephenEspinoza) February 24, 2019
Stone cold lies.
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) February 25, 2019
Lies? You mean like when you told Klitschko & HBO that AJ didn't have a multi-fight agreement with Showtime, even though there were still 3 fights left on the deal?
Experiences like that are why we keep all the receipts. I'm sure this excerpt will look familiar to you. pic.twitter.com/fNWK22YqNW
— Stephen Espinoza (@StephenEspinoza) February 25, 2019
At that point, Hearn asked Espinoza to produce the contract Wilder’s side had sent to Matchroom promotions, at which point Espinoza said he was referring to the now infamous $50 million offer made by Wilder.
Never said I sent it. Wilder sent it and you confirmed receipt.
"Hearn told ESPN that he had indeed received the offer by email from Wilder's personal account…" https://t.co/VNxG5Bms2S
— Stephen Espinoza (@StephenEspinoza) February 25, 2019
😂😂😂 so now you are saying the personal email from Wilder (that was one paragraph) offering $50m was a contract!!!! Hahaha – CONTRACT WAS REQUESTED AND NEVER SENT
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) February 25, 2019
Three detailed pages, not one paragraph.
— Stephen Espinoza (@StephenEspinoza) February 25, 2019
?!!! I repeat, despite requests we NEVER received a 1 page, 3 page or 50 page contract. If I’m lying then show the contract you sent
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) February 25, 2019
Now I’m even more confused. You need to check what was sent – there was never anything resembling a contract. Check with your fighter Deontay Wilder..oh no wait..
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) February 25, 2019
Again, never said "I" sent a contract. And I'm not going to expose private business arrangements in a Twitter discussion.
Considering your attempt to deny AJ's 6-fight Showtime deal after just 3 fights, it's not surprising that you wouldn't remember this one either.
— Stephen Espinoza (@StephenEspinoza) February 25, 2019
You aren’t going to expose private business arrangements on Twitter but you dont mind discussing AJ’s previous Confidential contract. You are a beauty. Anyway I’m glad we cleared up that a contract was never sent.
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) February 25, 2019
Didn't release anything that wasn't already public, other than you failed attempt to ignore the agreement you already entered into.
You didn't answer the question. A 3-page contract was sent. You said it wasn't. So what do you call the 3-page document that you received?
— Stephen Espinoza (@StephenEspinoza) February 25, 2019
No – a 3 page contract was never sent. Read my tweets not 1 page, 3 pages or 50 pages. You lost AJ because you ran out of money you know that. You also don’t have one of the top 3 heavyweights under contract. I get you are under pressure but don’t tell porky pies. Have a nice day
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) February 25, 2019
LOL…the lies continue. You're quite creative.
You don't dispute that you received a 3-page document with deal terms, but you don't consider it a contract…just like you didn't consider the AJ multi-fight deal a contract until you got legal advice telling you otherwise.
— Stephen Espinoza (@StephenEspinoza) February 25, 2019
I guess you aren’t going to show this contract – the one that doesn’t exist. Re your AJ issue he’s gone mate – as Elsa said – Let it go! pic.twitter.com/pj5cQwxEWl
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) February 25, 2019
And at that point, things just got fun.
No issue with AJ.
Just reminding you of your consistent attempts to misrepresent facts and your apparent inability (or refusal) to recognize contractual obligations. https://t.co/CoJHjnZNP9
— Stephen Espinoza (@StephenEspinoza) February 25, 2019
Our contract was honoured and then you ran out of money. However when you tried to approach AJ’s trainer on the sly about an extension it was game over baby. Conor was right 😘
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) February 25, 2019
Wow. Pathological. What a colossal waste of time this has become.
— Stephen Espinoza (@StephenEspinoza) February 25, 2019
Cheerio
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) February 25, 2019
Especially when Espinoza took over fifteen minutes to reply, and Hearn saw an opportunity to end the argument. For today at least.
Ran out of money after the AJ contract finished in March 2018? Another blatant lie. We did 9 more 2018 events after that. Quite a feat to do that with no money.
— Stephen Espinoza (@StephenEspinoza) February 25, 2019
Ref stopped contest half hour ago mate 🤥
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) February 25, 2019
–
