Deontay Wilder says his goals are different from that of Anthony Joshua. Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) states that he wants to be involved in the biggest fights against the best, and he doesn’t care about winning titles at this stage of his career.
The two former heavyweight champions Wilder & Joshua have a tentative date of March 9th penciled in, provided they win their fights this Saturday on the ‘Day of Reckoning’ card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Joshua’s comment yesterday about him only wanting to win world titles and that he puts that goal ahead of fighting Wilder, Tyson Fury & Oleksander Usyk makes Deontay question whether he might change his mind about facing him in March.
The Eddie Hearn-promoted Joshua wants to reclaim his lost crown, as he’s still bitter about losing his IBF, WBA & WBO belts to Andy Ruiz Jr. and Usyk.
Joshua’s record of 3-3 in his last six fights suggests that his chances of becoming a world champion are low, and even if he does someone regain or more of his belts, his time as the champ will be fleeting.
AJ seems to need the trinket titles for validation, but it won’t change anything. His career is heading downhill fast, and he’s better off fighting the Wilder and other big names as he heads down out door.
Wilder hopes AJ doesn’t change his mind
“I believe it will happen, but I do understand that I live in a world where things happen,” said Deontay Wilder to the media, talking about a potential mega-fight between him and Anthony Joshua hanging in the balance for March 9th.
“Sometimes people make decisions, and then they change their minds. I’m not saying he’s going to change his mind. I’m saying what can happen. Nothing is 100% until that bell goes ding, and we throw the first punch,” said Wilder.
Joshua sounded confused yesterday about what he wants with what’s left of his career. He didn’t seem like he was all there, particularly when he started giving short one-word answers to questions. Joshua looked like a person who was troubled and unhappy with how his once-promising career had stalled.
“If I chose my heart, I believe it will happen,” continued Wilder about thie Joshua fight. “I’m looking forward to seeing what happens after this. My main focus is on Joseph Parker at this moment in time. I don’t want no one to mistake that about me and Joshua fighting.
“After this fight, when I come out with my win, and hopefully Joshua comes out with his win, we can finally once and for all settle the score and get this and give the fans what they’ve been waiting for to see,” said Wilder.
If Wilder fails to get the Joshua fight, he’s still got a fourth fight against WBC champion Tyson Fury to look forward to and a battle against unified champ Oleksandr Usyk.
Those are both excellent options for Wilder. Deontay would like to face Fury again, considering the two were involved in three successful PPV clashes, and the boxing public would be happy to see them battle again.
Bronze Bomber sees the big picture
“His goals in life and my goals in life are different,” said Wilder about Joshua. “He may want to be a three-time heavyweight champion of the world. For me, I want to fight the best of the best in the division. I don’t really care about belts.
“For me and my career, I want to leave a legacy. I want to leave something for people to remember me as someone who fought the best of the best in my era. People aren’t going to worry about what belts that you have,” said Wilder.
Joshua is committed to belt-chasing, not necessarily fighting the best, and it could hurt his legacy if he chooses to continue down that path. It’s possible that Joshua could face Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF belt if it’s stripped from the winner of the Fury vs. Usyk clash if they choose to meet in a rematch after their undisputed championship fight next February.
“They’re going to remember who you fought and the time you fought,” said Wilder about fans of the future. “I think this is the greatest time in the history of the heavyweight division, and hopefully, this fight [Joshua vs. Wilder] will happen.
“If it didn’t happen, it ain’t going to be me. If it doesn’t happen, it means that he went in a different direction, and his plans are different. That’s okay for me,” said Wilder about Joshua, who some feel has been avoiding him as far back as 2018.
With the money that Saudis are prepared to pay Joshua & Wilder to fight next March, it’s hard to imagine AJ turning his back on that contest and going in the direction of fighting Usyk or Hrgovic for a world title.
Joshua’s next worth is $80 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, and when a fighter has that kind of money, they become eccentric and don’t follow the same direction as other people who aren’t sitting on a huge nest egg. Joshua has accumulated so much money that he could afford to walk away from the Wilder fight, and it wouldn’t change his life.
Last chance saloon for Parker
“If we never fight, I wish him nothing but the best, and I genuinely mean that. It would be a bummer for the fans, but I’m happy, and I’m at peace. So whatever happens, happens,” said Wilder.
“Joseph [Parker] was a world champion at one point in time. He comes with a lot of heart and he comes with a lot of bravery. When you have a man that comes with a lot of bravery, it always sets out for a great fight.”
This might be the end for Parker, so he’s going to be looking to fight tooth & nail. It’s the last chance for the 31-year-old Parker, as he’s getting older and has failed each time he’s stepped up against quality opposition.
He’s wasted a lot of time taking tune-ups after his losses, and it’s weird how he’s gotten stuck facing second-timer opposition, believing that it’s improving him. It hasn’t. He’s still the same flawed fighter that Joshua & Dillian Whyte beat in back-to-back fights in 2018.
“Him being in the Fury camp doesn’t bother me because I don’t think he’s ever fought anybody with my caliber, especially my power. So good look to him, and I’m looking forward to our fight on Saturday night,” said Wilder about his opponent, Parker.
