Deontay Wilder has Anthony Joshua in his sights.
The American called out Joshua following his KO victory over Bermane Stiverne on Saturday night. Wilder put in a typically, err, wild display during the first-round win, dropping his opponent three times with a flurry of heavy punches, before the referee showed mercy and stopped the bout.
It wasn’t pretty, but the American was effective with his unorthodox approach.
Very effective.
Following the victory over the late stand-in challenger for his WBC title, Wilder called out Joshua. However, as his performances show, Wilder throws punches in bunches, and he has followed up that declaration of “war” with another two attempts to get under Joshua’s skin.
“Anthony Joshua, you know I’m coming for you,” he said in an Instagram video.
“There’s no need to talk about next year or the year after that or 2020 – 2018 is what you should be worried about. You said if the people want it then you want it. Well, the people want it. Do you? Or do y’all have some hidden agendas? Are y’all hiding anything? We’re on it so either fight or shut up. Your promoter has talked so much, he says you’re gonna knock me out in three rounds. Let’s see it. I’m ready to dethrone you. I will be heavyweight champion of the world. I will defeat you. Are you up for the challenge?”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbNoEo7nOSc/?taken-by=bronzebomber
The 32-year-old then attempted to land another verbal jab during an interview with the BBC, in which he said he would be willing to fight AJ in the UK.
“Packing out stadiums looks good, but the money and Mecca of boxing is in America,” Wilder said.
“But if you want to stay at home like a little girl, this king has no problem travelling to knock out the champion.”
Wilder then accused Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn of trying to avoid staging a bout between the pair.
Who is the better fighter? https://t.co/ZaR7lQvUqA
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) November 7, 2017
“I think Eddie is ducking me more so than Joshua,” he said.
.@BronzeBomber Deontay Wilder calls out 'little girl' @anthonyfjoshua and says he will fight him in the UK pic.twitter.com/qhj3KlT1a5
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) November 8, 2017
Wilder is undefeated in his 39 bouts, winning 38 by KO, while Joshua has won all 20 of his professional bouts by KO.
Hearn said this week that he has had no contact yet from the boxer’s camp about scheduling a bout, despite Wilder’s repeated attempts to call-out Joshua, and they would be open to fighting him next year. However, the Matchroom promoter also said the American needs to be realistic about negotiations.
“One guy is selling 5,000 tickets in Brooklyn, the other is selling 70,000 tickets in Britain and we are making seven or eight times as much money per fight. There has to be some common sense.”
He'll say anything! https://t.co/TWCrWBnFni
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) November 6, 2017
Hearn said that Joshua could fight the WBO champion Joseph Parker next, and then look at a unification bout against Wilder after that.
“If we can pick up the belt against Parker and go into the fight with Wilder for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world, now you’re talking,” Hearn said.
While we wait for a fight between Joshua and Wilder, enjoy this clip someone made of Wilder’s fights.
https://twitter.com/AgainstTRopes/status/927872393032425475
