Team Wilder across the pond seem to be puzzled at the moment. They want Anthony Joshua badly especially now that both Wilder and ‘AJ’ have fought a week apart, but promoter Eddie Hearn believes the fight needs more build up and hype behind it.
After Wilder’s first round knockout over Bermane Stiverne, his manager Shelly Finkel spoke at the post fight press conference and confirmed that they are willing to do whatever it takes to get to Joshua, even fight Dillian Whyte, if the price was right.
“About six weeks ago, and this was not public, I got an email from Eddie Hearn. He said ‘If you fight Dillian Whyte, we’ll get you Joshua next.’ I couldn’t get to the phone quick enough and he didn’t answer, but later said ‘please give me a day. I just lost the fight with Pulev.’ So the next day I said to him what’s the deal and he said ‘what do you want to fight Dillian Whyte?’ and I said ‘that’ll be made easy, when do we get Joshua?’ – never called me back,” revealed the manager.
Finkel said Wilder is open to fighting Joshua wherever need be, definitely even in the UK.
“I’ve been around this game a long time. If someone wants to fight, they fight. Joshua said he wants to fight Deontay next year. Deontay just finished his mandatory, you heard what he wants to do. Joshua finished his mandatory and you haven’t heard a word from him. If Joshua wants to fight, Deontay is ready.
If it means the right deal to go to the UK, he’ll fight him on the moon. He’ll go anywhere to fight him. There’s no silence. There’s no avoiding. It’s up to Joshua,” told Finkel
“As soon as @anthonyfjoshua accepts the fight, I’ll be there. They’re trying to distract people because I’m a danger to anybody’s career.” pic.twitter.com/T7yw1HhTFO
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) November 2, 2017
Promoter Lou DiBella then took the stage and voiced his opinion about the situation and explained why he thinks Matchroom are unwilling to do the fight now.
“The fight obviously won’t happen next. They are going to do something else. Why? Why can’t it happen next? They literally fought one week apart. Neither one of them is hurt. They are exactly on the same schedule. Anthony Joshua doesn’t want to fight this man [Wilder] right now. Eddie Hearn doesn’t want Joshua to fight this man right now,” told DiBella.
In another interview with Seconds Out, DiBella raised the question about who really wants to see Wilder and Joshua both defeating mandatories when they can fight each other right now.
“It’s business. It’s prizefighting. We are probably not gonna see it next, but Eddie Hearn I’m asking a question why not?
Come out with it honestly. Your guy needs more polishing. He’s a young kid. He needs some more experience. He hasn’t had 39 fights like Deontay and with all due respect to his record, he does have that defining victory against Klitschko. I believe had Deontay been given the chance, he would have done it just as emphatically.
I don’t think that there is anything better about the rest of AJ’s record that there isn’t about Deontay’s record. These guys could both go on probably ad infinitum knocking other people out or beating guys up.
EASY WORK. 💣💣💣 #BombZquad#WilderStiverne2pic.twitter.com/rQm74s0p0Y
— Deontay Wilder (@BronzeBomber) November 5, 2017
Who really wants to see that?” asked DiBella.
During the post fight press conference, Wilder also touched the subject and commented:
“I don’t think he [Joshua] wants to fight me as bad as I want to fight him,” said the WBC World heavyweight champion.
Wilder previously ‘declared war’ against Joshua in the ring during his post fight speech. Making it clear that the Americans are seriously after Joshua now more than ever. But unfortunately, by the looks of things, they will have to wait a little longer to get to him.
READ MORE:
Wilder Dismantles Stiverne In Round One
Wilder Declares War On Anthony Joshua
Wilder At Heart – The WBC Champion Put On A Perfect Performance Writes Glenn McCrory