Promoter debunks claims Joshua would be least paid boxer for Saudi showdown

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has broken his silence on claims that Anthony Joshua is set to be the lowest paid boxer in a rumoured four-man heavyweight tournament.

AJ is currently in negotiations with Deontay Wilder over a bout that could take place in December.

The fight could happen in Saudi Arabia as part of a tournament that also sees Tyson Fury fight Oleksandr Usyk.

Joshua could reportedly pocket £30million alongside Wilder with the other two heavyweights supposedly set to take home between £50million and £90million.

However, Hearn has laughed off the report, responding to it via social media with giggling emojis.

The Brit's promoter previously suggested that the tournament could be worth £300m.

Hearn revealed more about the possibility of the event, telling Matchroom Boxing: "They want to make that night, they want to do Joshua vs Wilder and Fury vs Usyk.

"I think Usyk conversations and the Wilder conversations have gone very well.

"For us, we are in. We need to finalise terms but we said to Prince Khalid [bin Salman Al Saud] that is the fight we want.

"We know having worked with them before we can get a deal done.

"And really, what we are looking to do this week and next, is look at that situation and decide if there will be a fight in early August for Joshua before then.

"We just made it clear to them, our message was AJ is ready for all those fights, he is happy to agree the Deontay Wilder fight for December and we will now see if we can close terms in the next couple of weeks."

The rumours Joshua will receive a paycheck for £30m came from Simon Jordan, who has had his differences with Hearn in the past.

The radio host said: "What I’ve been hearing in the loosest of terms is the cut.

"£200m. £90m to Fury, £50m to Usyk and £30m each for Joshua and Wilder.

"That was an interesting piece of understanding that I got from that because I was thinking to myself, ‘Does Joshua accept £30million?"