Two-time heavyweight world champion, Anthony Joshua has revealed his belief that long-time rival, Deontay Wilder, ‘needs’ to fight him despite neither man holding a belt.
Joshua and Wilder were in talks for a fight in 2019 before ‘AJ’ lost his unified heavyweight title in a shock defeat to Andy Ruiz.
Since defeat, although the Brit won his title back in the rematch with Ruiz, both men have lost their belta, but still their rivalry continues without a conclusion in one of the most long-winded heavyweight feuds of recent memory.
On the ‘Big Fight Weekend’ podcast, Anthony Joshua admitted that he is looking to put an end to their conflict and revealed his aims of facing the ‘Bronze Bomber’ within twelve months.
Despite Joshua having suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time in his career, he claimed that it is Wilder who ‘needs the fight’.
“There are a few names that I would like to pursue in the next six to twelve months.”
“It seems that Deontay Wilder is more realistic [than Fury] because I just think that the stuff that goes on with Fury is a bit crazy.
I’ve been in this situation for a long time, even with them two, I’ve been in the same situation, but I just feel like Deontay is coming to a stage in his career where he is realistic, and he knows he needs this fight. Especially with the place where we are both at in our careers.”
However, in a division where the biggest names seem intent on avoiding one another, fans would be wise to prepare for disappointment if they are pinning their hopes on a mega-fight between the former champions.