Deontay Wilder has expressed his excitement at the prospect of fighting Anthony Joshua in London. The former WBC world champion was set to face Joshua in Saudi Arabia in March, but a disappointing performance in a shock defeat to Joseph Parker in December derailed those plans.
Wilder’s career appeared to have reached a dead end after the unanimous decision defeat to the New Zealander, but the 38-year-old is back with renewed vigor and is optimistic about his chances of facing Joshua if he can impressively defeat Zhilei Zhang on the Matchroom vs Queensberry card in Riyadh on June 1.
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While a fight between Joshua and Wilder has been discussed for years, it has yet to happen due to promotional issues. However, Wilder is confident that an impressive victory over Zhang next month will finally lead to a showdown with the Englishman. “Yeah, it turns me on,” Wilder told Sportsbook Review when discussing the possibility of fighting Joshua in London.
“I have no problem coming to London. It would be amazing for me. I actually have major fans in the UK, and I think they’re going to show up and represent me, even though I’m fighting their countryman. All these fights are beautiful to talk about, but I’ve got to handle business come June 1. But it has been a long time coming for that fight with AJ.”
“It’s easy for them to talk about it right now because I already have a task I need to accomplish, but we’ll see what type of talk they have when I accomplish my task, then there will be no more hiding, no will be able to hide, no one will be able to be outspoken without any weight behind it. When I do what I’ve got to do, then you’ve got to be a man of your word and do what you said you’re going to do.”, reports the Express.
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Joshua is riding a four-fight winning streak, capped with a sensational knockout victory over MMA star Francis Ngannou in March. Wilder has been impressed by the Englishman’s return to form, but he insists he has no fear of stepping into the ring with the former two-time unified heavyweight king.
“I want it. I’ve never ran from a fight, I never shied away from the fight, no matter what you’ve heard over the years,” he said. “I’ve never run from anyone, I’ve never dodged anyone, I’ve taken the short end of the sticks just to make fights happen, that’s the god’s honest truth. I’m here, and when I’ve done what I’m supposed to, let’s get this fight on. I want the biggest fights possible that can be made, but it all relies on June 1.”
Wilder also has his heart set on a fourth fight with Tyson Fury. The pair first met in 2018 with the bout ending in a draw before Fury won the rematch and the trilogy fight by stoppage in 2020 and 2021 respectively.”
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“I want to make Tyson Fury pay so bad, so bad. I don’t think that chapter is over with. I could see a fourth fight. I could see a fourth in the making, created by the creators. The Saudis have the source and the power to make it all happen. I want to get it back so bad.”
