By Charles Brun: Anthony Joshua took to social media today to call out WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder to urge him to face him in a unification fight for the “undisputed” championship. What’s odd about IBF/WBA/WBO champion Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) calling out WBC champ Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs) is the timing.
This looks like a theatrical move on Joshua’s part to get boxing fans excited about his career, since both he and Wilder are booked up solid with other fights in 2020.
A lot of people believe that Joshua is afraid of Wilder, and has been for a long, long time. Joshua calling out Wilder when the two of them havecommitments for 2020, it looks weak on his part.
AJ calls out Wilder for undisputed fight
Joshua has 2 mandatory defenses due in 2020 against Kubrat Pulev [IBF] and Oleksander Usyk [WBO], and those fights cannot be avoided or put off without AJ losing his belts. In Wilder’s case, he has a scheduled rematch against his WBC mandatory Tyson Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs) on February 22, as well as trilogy match against him in 2020. As such, next year is fully booked for both Joshua and Wilder. There is no wiggle room for the two heavyweight champions.
Let’s get Undisputed trending! That’s what I want & that’s what the people want..
I want it bad! I came to take over & not take part!
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyfjoshua) December 13, 2019
It’s still too early for Joshua to be calling out Wilder, because both fighters could lose in 2020. Wilder has a tough fight against Fury, and that match is considered a 50-50 proposition. Wilder and Fury fought to a 12 round draw last December. More than a few boxing fans believed that Fury should have had his hand raised. We haven’t seen any improvement in Wilder’s game since that Fury fight, have we?
Wilder didn’t look good against Ortiz
Deontay lost every round against his last opponent Luis Ortiz before stopping him in the 7th round last month in their rematch on November 23. If not for that knockout, Wilder probably would have lost a lopsided 12 round decision to Ortiz. Wilder was getting a boxing lesson from the 40-year-old Ortiz.
If Wilder falls behind Fury in the first half of their fight on February 22, he’ll likely lose. Fury isn’t going to get careless against Wilder in the later rounds like he did a year ago.
Joshua, 30, is still riding high on the adoration he’s been receiving from fans worldwide after beating Andy Ruiz Jr. in their rematch last Saturday night in Saudi Arabia. Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs) came into the fight weighing in the 280s, and basically forfeited his belts to Joshua on the night. Nevertheless, Joshua is treating his victory like he beat a prime Ruiz, and he’s feeling proud.
Joshua getting full credit by his fans for beating Ruiz
What’s interesting is Joshua’s loyal boxing fans are giving him full credit for his win over the fat out of shape 283 lb Ruiz rather than giving him just partial credit, which is what they arguably should be doing.
Ruiz looked like he had no business taking part in a championship fight in the physical condition that he was in for the Joshua fight last weekend. As Fury’s promoter Bob Arum pointed out this week, Ruiz would have lost to almost any heavyweight contender that night. Arum gives Joshua no “accolades” for his win due to the poor physical shape that Ruiz was in.
There’s a need for Joshua to face an in shape Ruiz in a trilogy match for him to receive credit for beating him by knowledgable fans. Joshua won’t receive the respect from the hardcore boxing fans until he beats Ruiz when the American is in tip top shape in the 240s, and is mentally ready to due battle.