Deontay Wilder has his next challenge against Joshua Parker, but the former WBC heavyweight champ’s focus is on something more and that is Anthony Joshua, as Wilder holds the opinion that the British boxing star has lost the respect of the division that he once had.
Other fighters see Joshua as “very beatable,” says Deontay Wilder
Wilder and Joshua will be in action on the same night but won’t be sharing the squared circle. This Saturday, December 23rd, the two former champions will be part of a massive boxing event in Saudi Arabia.
The former unified champion in Joshua will be taking on Otto Wallin in the main event, while the “Bronze Bomber” will lock horns against former WBO titleholder Joseph Parker in the co-main event.
From being a two-time unified WBA, WBO, and IBF champion, Joshua lost his golds against Oleksandr Usyk in 2021, followed by another defeat in the rematch with the Ukrainian a year later.
He did find his redemption with two back to back wins against Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius, but according to Wilder, the division doesn’t consider AJ as a top brass like it used to and see him as someone “very beatable”.
“It seems like he doesn’t have the respect he once had,” Wilder told Instant Casino. “A lot of the guys coming up disrespect him and say anything to him. And I think that’s kind of a frustrating thing for him, to go from one state of mind – everyone respects him – to now losing a few times and everyone now thinks you’re very beatable and we can beat you, so we’re going to talk trash to you and get to you.”
Deontay Wilder wants victory for both him and Joshua so they can face each other next
In the not too distant past, when both Wilder and Joshua were the WBC and unified champions of the heavyweight division, respectively, the two parties failed to reach an agreement for an undisputed championship showdown.
While the past efforts to make a fight happen had failed, Wilder is still hoping to share the ring with Joshua, and believes that if they both win their respective bouts this Saturday night, there’s nothing that could stop Wilder vs. Joshua from taking place next year, except that if one of them fails to come out victorious.
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“I don’t see anything stopping this fight happening between me and AJ at this time,” Wilder went on, “I don’t know all the plans that are ahead, but what I’ve seen so far and as of right now, there’s nothing stopping it. The only thing that could potentially stop it is either one of us losing on December 23. That’s the only thing I can see stopping it.”
“Other than that, everything else that stopped it happening before like his manager and promoter, I don’t think that problem exists at this moment in time. Everyone is in agreement and was on board last time I spoke with everyone. If and when we both win on December 23, you all can look forward to a great 2024, Wilder versus Joshua,” he added. [H/T British Boxing News]
What do you think of a Deontay Wilder vs. Anthony Joshua clash in 2024? Will they win their respective fights this Saturday, December 23rd? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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