Deontay Wilder’s manager, Shelly Finkel, has dampened hopes of fans seeing a clash between Anthony Joshua and ‘The Bronze Bomber’ in the near future.
Eddie Hearn recently announced that the two teams had made initial contact regarding the potential super fight between the two former champions. The Matchroom promoter made it clear that it’s a fight they want in 2023 and even suggested it might be the biggest fight in boxing right now.
However, Finkel has played down the chances of seeing the clash anytime soon, insisting that Joshua doesn’t want the fight and that Hearn is all talk.
Speaking to Queensbury Promotions’ YouTube channel, Finkel said.
“Eddie says all of these things, but he doesn’t come to the table.”
“We would fight him [Joshua] next but I don’t think Joshua wants the fight no matter what they say, because when you want a fight, you get it done.”
The two were meant to fight for the undisputed crown in 2019 when they were both still undefeated, but the bout never really came close to being made because of communication issues between the two teams.
Both men are now on the comeback trail after losing their world titles. Joshua lost back-to-back fights to Oleksandr Usyk, both via decision, whereas Wilder was knocked out by Tyson Fury in their trilogy bout in October 2021.
Wilder has been ordered to face Andy Ruiz Jr in his next fight as a final eliminator for Fury’s WBC belt and Finkel says that is now their focus:
“He’ll [Wilder] beat Ruiz and then we’ll worry, but one step at a time.”
Joshua was scheduled to return to the ring in December, but once negotiations for a fight with Tyson Fury fell apart, his comeback was delayed to March next year. Wilder made an explosive return to the ring last month with a trademark first round knockout over Robert Helenius.
Joshua’s next fight could be against the winner of Dillian Whyte vs Jermaine Franklin which is due to play out at the Wembley Arena on Saturday 26th November.