Respected boxing analyst, Stephen A Smith has made his prediction ahead of a potential fight between Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua.
Wilder and Joshua have been linked to a fight for years, and it’s believed a deal for an undisputed clash between the two was once close. Back then, Joshua and Wilder controlled all the belts in the division. Now, even though they’ve lost their titles, it doesn’t seem to have taken away any of the hype around the bout.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, confirmed this week that Saudi Arabia representatives were in London to finalise terms for the fight to take place at the end of the year or beginning of next.
Speaking on Mike Tyson’s podcast, Smith believes Wilder will get the knockout as Joshua ‘can’t take a punch’.
”Anthony Joshua is the better boxer, but I believe it’s all a matter of who catches who, I think that Deontay Wilder can take a punch, I don’t think Anthony Joshua can. But Joshua is the superior boxer and if can avoid getting caught by Wilder he’ll beat him, but I think Wilder will knock him out.
Although Smith thinks the American will get the better of the Brit, he thinks Wilder made a mistake ever getting in the ring with ‘AJ’ rival, Tyson Fury.
“I think Wilder beats Joshua but I think Deontay Wilder messed up by getting in the ring with somebody 38lbs heavier than him. Tyson Fury did everything he said he was going to do, he said ‘I’m the superior boxer, I’m going to lean on him, I’m going to wear down his legs, he’s not going to be able to move because I’m going to come in around 40lbs heavier than him’, and that’s exactly what he did.”
Joshua is looking to get out before facing ‘The Bronze Bomber’, with Dillian Whyte having been sent a contract and is the current frontrunner.
Wilder on the other hand made an offer to Andy Ruiz Jr, but negotiations have become public with the two teams seemingly far apart on their valuations.