Former two division champion Ricky Hatton is scratching is head at the ongoing discussions to make a rematch between heavyweight rivals Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte.
Joshua is being positioned to return to the ring in the month of August, with a potential fight against Deontay Wilder eyed for December in Saudi Arabia.
Eddie Hearn, promoter of Joshua, stated in interviews that Whyte’s handlers had flat-out rejected the monetary terms for the rematch.
A week later, Whyte would reject Hearn’s statements and told reporters that he never turned down the fight.
In response to Whyte, Matchroom would issue an official contract last Friday.
On Monday, Whyte confirmed that a contract was received – but he wasn’t pleased with some of the terms – specifically the clause for an immediate rematch clause.
Hatton, who is actively following the Joshua-Whyte drama, is getting frustrated with the current heavyweight landscape.
“The heavyweight scene is a little bit upsetting, isn’t it?” Hatton told Talk Sport.
“I’m not pointing any fingers at promoters or TV or even fighters, but it’s a little bit like a circus at the minute, you don’t know who to believe or what to believe.
“I originally saw that Dillian Whyte vs Anthony Joshua was going to be made in August and then Dillian Whyte said he hasn’t even had an offer and then Eddie Hearn said he had made an offer and then they were arguing over how much the offer was and I was thinking to myself ‘what do you believe?’”
Hatton also explained that today’s top heavyweights, including the world champions, are barely active.
“[Usyk] and Tyson [Fury] haven’t fought since nearly Christmas and I remember back in the day when you won the title you had a certain number of days to defend it otherwise you got stripped,” Hatton said.
“I don’t know what’s happening these days but it’s like the governing bodies are making up their own rules for their financial benefit and it’s hurting our sport.
“Negotiating is part of the business. I’ve been there and you want the best deal, but sometimes they’re going to cut the nose off to spite the face. You see YouTubers, rappers and Mixed Martial Artists fighting each other and they’re the ones pulling in the crowds while our sport is suffering and it’s because big fights aren’t being made.”