Eddie Hearn has branded Deontay Wilder’s admission that he would not fight Anthony Joshua even if he was offered a 50-50 split as 'weird'.

Wilder has stated that he will not take on the current IBF, WBA and WBO champion until next year at the earliest and not in any of his next three fights.

However, he is now also reported to have said that he would not fight Joshua even he was guaranteed an even share of the money on offer.

“If I’m an outsider looking in, how can you think Deontay wants to fight with Joshua?”, Hearn told iFL TV. “He’s told you the truth; he doesn’t want the fight.

“I can’t believe they’re actually saying it because after everything they’ve said why would you embarrass yourself and come out and say 'Nah, we’ve got other plans mate.'

“I can’t make out if they’re just joking... I’m hoping it’s just a windup.”

Joshua’s promoter Hearn had previously predicted that Wilder would turn down the fight even if he was promised an even split.

In his latest comments, he also criticised the 33-year-old’s intentions.

“Why 2020? So what, he can fight Kownacki? What good is that?” he exclaimed.

“He’s not sure whether he would cancel the Adam Kownacki fight for an Anthony Joshua undisputed fight for four or five times as much money?

“Please can everybody watching this just get off our f***ing backs and just listen to what they are saying.

“I’m glad now, it’s taken a year for people to know the truth.”

Boxing fans have been hoping that Joshua and Wilder will square up at some point during the past couple of years.

However, if the fight even takes place at all it seems they will have to continue to wait for the foreseeable future.