Anthony Joshua is currently one of the biggest stars in the boxing world, but it looks like UFC President Dana White is looking to come in and scoop him up for himself.
White is a huge boxing fan and has taken a liking to the current WBA, IBF and IBO heavyweight champion. It's because of this that White reportedly is set to offer him one of, if not the, biggest contracts in combat sports history.
The Telegraph reports that White can convince Joshua to leave his longtime promoters at Matchmaking Boxing, fronted by Eddie Hearn, and sign with the Zuffa Boxing promotion instead. Zuffa is ready to spend half a billion dollars to ink the Englishman.
Below is an excerpt from The Telegraphs's report on White and Zuffa's proposed $500 million contract to Joshua (quotes via MMA Mania):
"The Ultimate Fighting Championship is making an audacious bid to sign a promotional multi-fight deal with Anthony Joshua which could earn the Londoner $500 million (£353 million) and make him the richest British boxer of all time."
Joshua is currently undefeated in his boxing tenure with a record of 20-0. He is set for a heavyweight unification bout against Joseph Parker on March 31, 2018 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
White is expected to be in attendance for the fight where he will meet with Joshua afterwards. Zuffa and White have been looking to get in the boxing game ever since the conclusion of their big-money boxing fight with Floyd Mayweather.
UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor jumped over the the squared circle to challenge undefeated Floyd Mayweather in a high-profile exhibition bout. Mayweather wound up winning that fight via third round TKO.
Ever since, White has expressed a tremendous interest in promoting boxing, however, other promoters within the sport don't seem too hot about the idea. It should be interesting to see whether or not White is able to land Joshua.
It would be a huge splash for Zuffa boxing to sign one of the boxing world's biggest stars. Not to mention Joshua's post-Parker fight expectations are already high with Deontay Wilder expected to be ringside as well.
What are your thoughts on White being prepared to offer Joshua a half a billion dollar deal to sign with the UFC? Do you think that White has a chance at landing the Englishman as a client? And who are you picking in Joshua vs. Parker? Let us know your thought son the matter in the comments section below!
Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: http://gms.to/writeforgms