Deontay Wilder continues to seek an opponent in preparation for an eventual showdown with Anthony Joshua, but claims his rivals continue to price themselves out of negotiations.
Joshua and Wilder have been linked to a clash with one another for over half a decade, but talks are yet to come to fruition, despite a deal seeming all-but-announced in recent months.
Instead, the rivals are slated to box on the same card in Saudi Arabia in December, before taking on one another in 2024.
With Wilder competing in just one round since October 2021, a warm-up seems absolutely necessary. Former WBO champion Joseph Parker is the frontrunner to take on ‘The Bronze Bomber’ next month, but another man has thrown his hat in the ring.
Michael Hunter has offered to step up to the plate and fight for next-to-nothing – ‘in a heartbeat, for peanuts.’
Similarly to Wilder, Hunter has boxed just two rounds since 2021, defeating Miguel Cobos by second-round knockout on September 30 in Mexico.
The 35-year-old challenged Oleksandr Usyk for the WBO Cruiserweight World Title back in 2017 before moving up to the heavyweight division and scoring a stoppage win over Martin Bakole in a win that has aged very well due to Bakole’s newfound form in the division.
Still, Hunter is yet to pose any real threat to the heavyweight title-holders and needs to make a big move in the near future if he is to ever get a shot at becoming a world champion.
A win over Wilder would certainly be a statement, but it could be too little too late as a deal with Parker is reportedly near completion.