Deontay Wilder’s Team Calls Out Anthony Joshua
By Eddie Sanchez
There has been much speculation regarding the status of the Heavyweight Division heading into 2023. There are five main men who are often linked to one another in some fashion. Those men of course are Tyson Fury (WBC Heavyweight Champion), Oleksandr Usyk (WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO & The Ring Heavyweight Champion), Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua, and Andy Ruiz Jr.
Most of the clamor largely focuses on the potential matchup between Fury and Usyk. This is rightfully so, given that the two facing off would leave us with the closest opportunity to an Undisputed Champion since Lennox Lewis.
The other three men have found themselves in a love triangle of sorts, and Deontay Wilder is caught in the middle of it. This past October, the WBC ordered Deontay Wilder versus Andy Ruiz Jr. as the mandatory title eliminator for the belt that Tyson Fury currently holds. This would provide both men with an opportunity to once again become Heavyweight Champion of the world.
For about three weeks, boxing sources had pinpointed dates ranging from mid-March to early-May as likely targets for that fight, but Deontay Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel reported the following to World Boxing News.
“Deontay is willing to fight Anthony Joshua next. We would take that fight in the UK or the Middle East, and we will do it next.”
“We have the WBC eliminator with Ruiz, and we will do that, but we want the Joshua fight. Eddie Hearn said he contacted me in August, but we had the [Robert] Helenius fight.”
“We announced it that month and said we won’t talk to anyone until after the Helenius fight. Eddie knew this but still said he had contacted us.”
“Now we are willing to talk to make a deal for Joshua next.”
“Deontay wants the fight next. We’ve been trying since 2017 to get the Joshua fight. Let’s make a deal and do the fight. The fans want to see it, so why not?”
“The Ruiz fight is there, and we will do it if we can’t get Joshua. But even if Deontay beats Ruiz, we are still willing to fight Joshua.”
“We understand Eddie could want the Whyte fight, but the fans would like to see Deontay Wilder vs Anthony Joshua, and we are willing to do it. Let’s make a deal!”
This plea is typical for the sport of boxing. Fans of all sides will come with their opinions on which side is speaking honestly and vis versa. For better or worse, the only opinions that matter and the respective management teams for the parties involved. Well them, and the network promoters as well!
There are many hurdles for this fight to become a reality, but the fact that Wilder’s team is vocalizing their desire for the Joshua fight is a positive sign.
It’s more likely than not that Wilder-vs-Ruiz Jr. takes place in early-2023, but there is potential for an even greater fight around the corner!
