Anthony Joshua has been warned by a fierce rival that a fight against Deontay Wilder would be ‘signing his life and career away.’
Joshua and Wilder have been linked to a fight since both became heavyweight champions over 6 years ago. At one stage the two heavy hitters controlled all the belts in the division and were in talks for an undisputed clash, but negotiations failed and now both have lost their titles.
Tyson Fury took Wilder’s WBC belt after winning two of their three fights. ‘AJ’ lost his WBA, IBF and WBO titles to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and failed to regain them the following year in their rematch.
In a strange turn of events, Joshua and Wilder are fighting on the same night, as part of a stacked card on December 23, but won’t be facing each other. The Brit is taking on Swedish southpaw, Otto Wallin, whilst ‘The Bronze Bomber’ will be up against Joseph Parker.
It’s expected that, if the two former champions come through their respective fights, they will finally square off in the ring next year.
One man who doesn’t think Joshua should go anywhere near Wilder is brash American Jarrell Miller.
Miller has had a fierce rivalry with the former two-time champion ever since they were scheduled to face each other back in 2019. ‘Big Baby’ was pulled from the fight after testing positive for several banned substances in the lead up and was replaced by Andy Ruiz Jr.
Speaking to Fight Hype, Miller said:
“He’s not fighting Wilder, that’s not happening. Eddie Hearn is not going to sign AJ’s life and career away just yet, he won’t do that.”
Miller is next in the ring against Daniel Dubois on the same card in December.