It would be a disaster for Anthony Joshua to face Deontay Wilder after dispatching Joseph Parker
Anthony Joshua has redefined boxing. Hes put our sport back on the map as being one of the biggest in the world. Im telling you now people can say Im kissing his ***e but its a fact. Without Anthony Joshua British boxing wouldnt be where its at. Anybody who thinks different is a fool.
It wont be straightforward against Joseph Parker on Saturday but its impossible for people to look at the future and whats next and all eyes are on a mega fight with Deontay Wilder.
I can see why people are surprised by Wilders no-show in Cardiff but hes taking a stance and showing hes a big guy regardless. Hes saying Im a world champion in my own right. Ultimately nobody knows him.
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Having said that, its unbelievable that the WBC heavyweight champion can have his name mentioned in New York and yet they dont know who Wilder is.
Its down to poor promotion, poor managerial experience. Hes the first really recognisable heavyweight America have had since the days of Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield.
Nobody knows him. Its criminal. Its not down to him because he produces the knockouts. It needs to be sorted out because the world deserves to know who he is.
Hes a good fighter, albeit different to a regular fighter. He does what it says on the tin. Hes wild. Hes powerful and unorthodox but that works in his favour. People think because technically he doesnt do things in the right way hes not that good. Make no mistake, Wilder can clean any heavyweight in the world out right now with one of those big swings.
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Its worrying how much we need to get him known. I want to see the fight with Anthony happen. Everyone wants to see Wilder v Joshua but I also understand both these men should want to maximise their potential on both sides.
For that to happen they both have to be known. It should be doing 2 million PPV buys in America at the very least. The way Wilder talks and the knockouts both produce this should build into a huge fight.
But the truth is if this fight goes ahead now I dont think itd touch 750k PPVs in America and thats a disaster.
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I think they both want to face each other. Theyre not scared and they want the belts. But ultimately they want to be rewarded for facing each other and they are well within their rights to want it.
I would suggest a big bill in somewhere like Vegas or New York with Joshua fighting someone like Jarrell Miller and Dillian Whyte facing Wilder. Id put them on the same card. There wouldnt be a huge amount of money even though the American networks would be right behind it.
But the American public need to see Joshua up close and personal and maybe against one of their own in Miller who has got a great voice. Hes got the best voice in the world, he could even out-talk me. Hes articulate and knowledgeable and can fight a bit.
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