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EXCLUSIVE :Wilder fired up for potential Joshua clash

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Wilder Joshua

Former WBC heavyweight chaWilder fired up for potential Joshua clashmpion Deontay Wilder is sure that a fight with Anthony Joshua will happen in the future despite recent setbacks, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The American heavyweight faces Zhilei Zhang June 1, six months on from his shock defeat to Joseph Parker. The loss to Parker in December derailed a planned fight against Joshua, but Wilder says the long-awaited bout can still happen.

“People are always going to want to see that fight no matter what,” Wilder told BBC Sport.

“I put it in the high 90s (percentage chance of happening).”

READ MORE :Anthony Joshua backed to ‘wipe the floor’ with Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury by Derek Chisora due to key change

Wilder’s trainer Malik Scott has backed his fighter to reassert himself among the likes of Fury, Usyk and Joshua, but insists he must stop Zhang in style if he is to have any chance.

Eddie Hearn says Deontay Wilder vs Anthony Joshua fight is off and it would be a 'mismatch' | talkSPORT

“It’s really do or die now, he has to get this done and in his position he can’t get it done just any way, he has to get it done in a violent manner,” Scott told Sky Sports.

Joshua and Wilder both fought on the same night last December, with a view to meeting in April 2024, but the British-Nigerian was forced to face former UFC champion Francis Ngannou instead, after Wilder’s defeat.

Wilder says the loss was in part down to his 14 months of inactivity leading up to the Parker fight, but said a big win will resurrect interest in the contest.

Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder will be blocked if AJ hires one of three coaching options | Boxing | Sport | Express.co.uk

“I always said it before, it’ll be a shame if we never fought,” Wilder said of Joshua.

“It only takes that one fight, that one night. June 1st is going to be that night, that one fight. Deontay Wilder knocks (Zhang’s) head off and the world goes crazy. And there we go again, Wilder versus Joshua. They want it (again).”

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BOXING

Wilder Could Figure in Miller’s Future in Heavyweight Return

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Wilder Miller

Jarrell Miller’s career can still be rebuilt, according to his promoter Dmitriy Salita.

The disgraced heavyweight lost his undefeated record in December when he was stopped by Daniel Dubois in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the same evening on which Otto Wallin, Salita’s other leading heavyweight, fought Anthony Joshua and was also stopped.

Miller, 35 and from New York, served three drug bans before he was presented with the biggest opportunity of his career since 2019 — the world heavyweight title fight with Joshua that didn’t happen because he tested positive for GW501516, a metabolic performance enhancer.

Before being installed as Dubois’ opponent he fought, in a largely overlooked occasion, Lucas Browne, but Dubois’ profile is such that during fight week there were vulgar suggestions that Miller and Joshua ought to still fight.

That Miller not only lost but was stopped by a fighter whose reputation had also suffered in defeat by Oleksandr Usyk made his options even more limited. Boxing is far from a sport that consistently punishes those for brushes with the law but a month later Miller was arrested in Florida for allegedly body slamming the employee of a car dealership, potentially leaving him even more stranded than he was before.

Deontay Wilder and Jarrell Miller get into heated on-air exchange - Bad Left Hook

“It is,” Salita responded when it was put to him that it is a long road back Miller is faced with. “It was a fight for him to win, and he didn’t really show up and do what we felt he could. It’s to Daniel Dubois’ credit, and [Dubois’ trainer] Don Charles — they fought an incredible fight.

“When I thought Daniel Dubois would break he didn’t break. When the going got tough he got going — so, much credit to him for being in incredible condition. Jarrell put a lot of pressure on him; was 100lbs heavier than him. That’s a lot to deal with. He did a great job.

“Jarrell is fighting his way back into shape. If he can maintain peace outside of the ring and stay focused, with a win or two he can get a shot at one of the big guys again.”

READ MORE ;“He’s a Real One”: Deontay Wilder’s Inspiring Message on His “Character” Earns Him Respect From Fans

When asked about potential opponents Salita mentioned Deontay Wilder, who also lost on the same night as Miller and Wallin — against Joseph Parker, jeopardising plans for Wilder to fight Joshua.

“[Miller would] like to be able to come back in May or June,” the promoter continued. “There was some conversation about him fighting on the March 8 [Joshuna-Ngannou] show, but what happened, happened. He couldn’t travel, and he had to recover from the fight with Daniel Dubois.

Deontay Wilder and Jarrell Miller turned down heavyweight contender says British trainer | DAZN News US

“So yeah, May, June — the heavyweight division is competitive because everybody is fighting everybody. Which is great. Jarrell and Deontay Wilder may be an interesting fight — they’re coming off sub-par performances. So I do think that there’s big fights out there for Jarrell. He only has one loss in the ring, so he definitely deserves another shot. Daniel Dubois, on paper and in the ring, is the best fighter that he’s fought.

UPDATE NEWS ;Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder II: The Night Fury Returned to the Top

“My hope is that he learns from the experience, gets better, and comes back and gives it another shot. At the end of the day, it’s up to Jarrell. He has talent; he has personality. He’s getting opportunities, so it’s up to Jarrell to put his best foot forward to be the best he can be.”

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