Deontay Wilder refused chance to face off with Anthony Joshua after Joseph Parker fight
Deontay Wilder has revealed he refused to attend Anthony Joshuas unification fight with Joseph Parker because Eddie Hearn would not allow a post-fight face-off.
The WBC champion wanted to jump in the ring and face off with the winner, but Joshua and Matchroom promotions denied the request.
Wilder has since backed out of his commitment to attend the fight in Cardiff and will no longer be part of Sky Sports commentary time.
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The news is a telling blow to the hype surrounding Wilder and Joshua, and deprives the fans of seeing the two heavyweights square off for the first time.
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My whole decision of not going to the fight was definitely a team decision, my decision at the end of the day, Wilder told Boxing Scene.
But it was a turnoff when Joshua and his people said that I wouldnt be allowed in the ring, that he would have extra security and a restraining order and all that stuff. Hes on record saying that.
Its a turnoff to me. The point is why be there if you cant hype up the biggest heavyweight fight in a long time?
They say they want me to hype the fight up, they want me to raise the profile of the fight.
What better way than free advertising? That was free advertising. Nobody had to pay for that.
But they dont want this fight. They dont wanna fight me, and that proved it. For that reason, we felt like we didnt need to go. Because [Hearns] whole focus, his whole, main concern, is about another fighter [Dillian Whyte].
It aint got nothing to do with me and Joshua. Thats his whole high right now. Hes not trying to make the Joshua fight. Hes trying to make another fight that we dont want.
Wilder vs Joshua is the obvious next mega-fight to make should the Brit get past Joseph Parker on Saturday night in Cardiff.
Defeating Parker would crown Joshua the IBF, WBA (Super) and WBO champion and set him on a collision course with WBC king Wilder.
Despite the fever around Wilder and Joshua, the American is convinced the AJ team will do everything in their power to avoid fighting him.
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I expected Eddie to do that because he needs something to fool the people, Wilder said.
He needs something to tell them. Hell tell them anything but the truth. Everybody knows Im not scared. Everybody in America and half of the people over there in England know Deontay Wilder aint scared of no man.
I just beat the most craftiest, skillful guy in boxing [Luis Ortiz]. We know whos scared here. We know whos been trying to get this fight done.
Joshua aint even mention my name, but Ive mentioned his name. They dont want this fight, and so they needed something to fuel their fans up with the excuses, to continue to keep this going.
But a lot of the UK fans are waking up, seeing the type of person he really is. They aint feeding into the bullsh*t that hes selling.
Metro.co.uk is reporting live from Cardiff in association with Betfair – for latest odds go here.
Joshua vs Parker Betfair Odds
Joshua 1/5
Parker 9/2
Draw 40/1
Method of Victory
Joshua by Decision/Tech Decision – 4/1
Joshua by KO, TKO or DQ – 2/5
Parker by Decision/Tech Decision – 18/1
Parker by KO, TKO or DQ – 7/1
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