Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has responded after Deontay Wilder made an incredible offer to fight Anthony Joshua.

The American boxer personally sent a $50m offer to Joshua, Hearn and Rob McCracken by email - and also sent a tweet reminding AJ that he said he would accept a $50m offer.

Wilder said "all the money is in the bag so I expect you will be a man of your word".

Meanwhile, Wilder's manager Shelly Finkel confirmed that an offer had been made.

"We want [Joshua] to fight Deontay in his next fight and we offered him $50m," he told Sky Sports.

"If he accepts it, it will be there. Al Haymon and I have never not delivered what we've offered.

"We were offered $12.5m (£8.8m) to fight him but we have offered four times that. If [Joshua] says he is not going to take $50m, it means he doesn't really want to fight him next."

Eddie Hearn responds

Joshua's promoter was quick to respond to Wilder's "substantial" offer.

“I got an email from Deontay Wilder, basically offering a 50/50 split of the fight, which isn’t of interest, but with a $50m guarantee which is of interest,” Hearn told iFL TV.

“It said to please accept this fight by tomorrow, which makes it feel like a PR move, especially since it has come from Deontay. But we have to take it seriously.

"They want total control of the show - and a date and venue of their choice. If this is serious, with a proof of funds and proper contract, we need to look at it.

“They are banking on the fight making 20m dollars and Wilder getting 20m against the 12 and a half we offered him.”

“We really want to do the fight in the UK,” Hearn added. “That’s where we’ve built something incredible and the base of our offer was doing it in the UK.

“But this is substantial money, and if there is something there then we will definitely look at it.

“No disrespect to Deontay but I don’t believe he has that kind of money so I want to know where it’s coming from and who is paying it. We can’t afford to accept a deal that doesn’t exist.

“I’ve spoke to AJ. He knows the situation but we want to see the money and know it is real."

Team Joshua have until Thursday midnight to accept the offer - but are due to have a meeting with Team Wilder on Friday.