Deontay Wilder tells Anthony Joshua that it will be ‘a major disaster’ if they don’t fight, as the ‘Bronze Bomber’ insists he’s doing ‘everything in my power’ to organise bout with the Brit
- Deontay Wilder has issued yet another call-out to fight Anthony Joshua
- Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, claimed the Brit will not fight Wilder next
- LISTEN: Exclusive Tyson Fury interview on THE HOOK – our new boxing podcast
Deontay Wilder has issued yet another call-out to Anthony Joshua and claimed that it would be ‘a major disaster’ if they don’t fight.
The two heavyweights have been tipped to share the boxing ring at some point in the near future, with a bout on the undercard of Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk heavily suggested.
While Joshua has admitted that a bout with Wilder could take place in the early stages of 2024, his promoter Eddie Hearn talked down the possibility of a bout with Wilder.
Now, the ‘Bronze Bomber’ has taken matters into his own hands and issued a direct call-out to the British star, where he insisted he’s ‘ready to fight’.
Speaking on his Instagram, Wilder said: ‘I promise you guys I’ll be back very soon. It’s just sometimes, the business of boxing has to run its course and do what it does. I’ll be back very soon.
Deontay Wilder (pictured) took to Instagram to issue yet another call-out to Anthony Joshua
The two heavyweight stars have been tipped to fight however nothing has been booked
A post shared by Deontay Wilder (@bronzebomber)
‘Another thing I want to address is a fight that everyone is looking forward to, and hopefully, it happens. I’m doing everything in my power to make it happen, and I’m referring to the Anthony Joshua fight.
‘Anthony, you’re hearing it from the horse’s mouth himself. I’m here, I’m ready to go. I heard some of the things about what your promoter [Eddie Hearn] said about my last fight [against Robert Helenius], which only lasted a short period of time and I haven’t fought in a year, and he doesn’t know if I want to fight or not.
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‘I’m letting you know right now, right here, that I’m ready to fight and ready to get in that ring. Let’s make this the best time of our lives. This will be a major disaster if we never get in the ring and put our stamp down in history.
‘When people think about classic and great fights, I want them to think about us as well. To be able to do that, we got to get in the ring, and that’s what it’s all about. The silliest thing I’ve heard is people say that you’re not ready, and that’s the silliest thing.’
‘I don’t believe that. I believe you’re ready. I hope you’re ready, I think you’re ready. Let’s make this happen, me and you. Let’s make the history happen’.
Joshua is currently looking for his next opponent as he continues his road to recovery following crushing back-to-back defeats against Oleksandr Usyk, after getting back to winning ways against Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius this year.
Fans have demanded to see the mouth-watering clash between Joshua and former WBC world champion Wilder but talks for that fight are now on the rocks. It was set to be staged in Saudi Arabia before changes in the country’s boxing management left it in doubt.
Joshua is looking to keep momentum after easing to a stoppage win against Robert Helenius
Hearn said anyone who wanted to see Joshua fight Wilder, Zhilei Zhang – fresh off his second victory over Joe Joyce – or old opponent Andy Ruiz would be disappointed as he revealed how his star boxer was insistent that he fight three times in 2023.
‘It’s not going to be Deontay Wilder, it’s not going to be Andy Ruiz, and it probably won’t be Zhang, so you have to look at that top-15,’ he added.
‘We’re more [sure] on the date than the opponent. He wants to fight in December.
‘In his head he says he wanted to fight three times in a year. But I said, “you fought in April”. He said, “no, I want to fight three times in 2023”. So he would love to get in in December. And we’ll have to keep one eye on the 23rd (of December) because we just don’t know what’s going to happen.’
Speaking at the United States Grand Prix this weekend, Joshua remained coy about the December bout.
‘It won’t be a championship fighter – which is Usyk and Fury,’ he said. ‘It won’t be none of them guys and I am not too sure about the Wilder situation.’
Eddie Hearn ruled out Deontay Wilder and said AJ would look to face someone in the top 15
He did talk up the possibility of facing Wilder next year and even suggested it could take place on the same card as Tyson Fury against Usyk.
‘They want to put Usyk v Fury and Joshua v Wilder on the same night,’ he added.
‘When Fury gets through Ngannou it is going to be late October going into November, so I doubt he will prepare for Usyk and then fight in December.
‘It is too short. So the next window will be in March or April and that is when the undisputed fight will happen. What we are being told is that they want to make it a mega card.’
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