Former World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has revealed that he told Anthony Joshua he is ready to set up a blockbuster heavyweight bout after his victory over Derek Chisora at The O2 on Saturday night.
Wilder briefly spoke to Joshua post-fight before being heard saying “he’s scared” after beating Chisora on points in the 50th outing of both fighters’ careers, and he is already targeting Joshua for number 51.
Wilder and Joshua came together more than once, and the American also walked past the Brit in the bowels of the O2 arena prior to the fight.
Wilder addressed the encounter in his post-fight press conference, saying: “It wasn’t an exchange. I mean, it wasn’t a few words. I dapped it up with him and said, “Now let’s get it on.” It was simple as that.
“I’m ready for whoever. As long as these guys [are] in the heavyweight division, I’m here. You can call me ‘Mr. Clean’ because I want to clean up the whole division.
The heavyweight division is nothing without Deontay Wilder, the character that I bring, the things that I say. What other fighter do you know makes things go viral from the things they say from different interviews and stuff? I don’t know, not one.
With that being said, you need that type of character, somebody that’s real, somebody that’s passionate about what he says and unapologetic for what he says, because I feel what I say and I mean what I say.
Following his split-decision victory over Chisora, Wilder spoke on who he could potentially fight next – and would be open to a bout with British star Moses Itauma.
Joshua, the former unified boxing heavyweight champion,career, was making his first public appearance since the deaths of close friends Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele as he arrived at The O2 to support Chisora.
Two-time world heavyweight champion Joshua was a passenger in a fatal car crash in Nigeria on December 29, which killed Ghami and Ayodele.
It remains to be seen if and when Joshua resumes his career but a fight against Wilder—long touted but never agreed upon—would certainly mark an eye-catching return.
But Wilder is also open to fighting the rising star of the heavyweight division, Moses Itauma, who extended his record to 14-0 with a brutal knockout of Jermaine Franklin in Manchester last month.
Itauma delivers a ‘beautiful’ knockout to stop Jermaine Franklin in the fifth round of their bout at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena. Pictures courtesy of X @DAZN
Speaking after beating Chisora, Wilder said of Itauma: “I’m in the heavyweight division; all these other characters are in the heavyweight division. Why not?
“I’m not dodging anyone. I’m a veteran in the game. I’m looking forward to fighting any and all, especially if the fans want to see it.
I didn’t know who Moses was, but I saw some of his highlights, and I saw his last fight against Franklin. Hell of a KO.
“He seems like a potential champion, so why not test him out?”
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
