Definition of Step-Aside Deal

What does the term "step-aside deal" mean in the world of boxing? What is meant by the term "step-aside deal"?

In boxing, a step-aside deal occurs when a boxer is paid a handsome amount of money to "step aside" and let another fighter take their place in a fight.

For instance - let's say that a champion loses his title, and he has a clause in his contract that allows him to ask for an immediate rematch.

Promoters, however, want to put together another fight that will do a much bigger PPV number.

Well, the fighter that lost the title contractually has the right to request the rematch.

In order to get them to not request the rematch, promoters will sometimes pay out a large sum of money that is called a "step-aside deal".

This is rumoured to be happening in the Anthony Joshua/Oleksandr Usyk/Tyson Fury situation.

Anthony Joshua contractually has the right to a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, though he is reportedly going to be paid tens of millions of dollars to step aside and let Tyson Fury take his place.

Fury vs Usyk is the much bigger fight right now, and promoters believe that they can recoup that $20 million payment and more if they can get Anthony Joshua to bow out of the picture by accepting a large payment.

This is the "step-aside deal".