Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder’s long-awaited heavyweight clash has been spoiled following years of failure to get it made.
According to promoter Eddie Hearn, the two former world champions had signed a deal to fight in Saudi Arabia early next year with the condition that they both won on the Day of Reckoning card on December 23.
Wilder was not able to do so, being comprehensively out-boxed by Joseph Parker over twelve rounds. Joshua still kept his end of the bargain by dispatching of Otto Wallin in five rounds – his best performance of the year by far.
It’s not expected that ‘AJ’ will focus on becoming three-time world champion rather than a money-spinning non-title bout with Wilder.
The American told 78SPORTSTV that he would still take the fight next, but that Joshua would use the Parker loss as an excuse to block it. He also believes that, if he won, Joshua would have retired on the spot.
“There’s so much going on. They really don’t want that fight. They really don’t want that fight, and when I lost did you see how happy he was coming out? I saw it in the back, I swear to god I burst out laughing. I said ‘That n**** happy as f**k. I made him be able to perform like ‘s**t I ain’t gotta fight Wilder.’ Because the rumour was he was that he was talking about retiring if I won.”
There aren’t many pundits who will buy into this claim, especially given the form both men showed on fight night. In fact, the general consensus from fans when the comments were shared on social media was that Wilder’s comments were ’embarrassing’ and that there was now no appetite for the fight.
With the Wallin win, the Brit made himself number 2 with the IBF. That sanctioning body’s world title is expected to become vacant following Tyson Fury’s undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk, and the most likely option for Joshua is to face Filip Hrgovic, the number one, for the belt.
Wilder has confirmed he will fight on, but who he faces is unclear.