Wilder: It’s war Joshua
DEONTAY WANTS BIG SHOWDOWN
DEONTAY WILDER has declared war on Anthony Joshua.
And, bizarrely, he even told British fight fans to spit at their hero if he ducks his challenge.
The American flattened hapless challenger Bermane Stiverne inside a round to defend his WBC title on Saturday night in New York.
And Wilder, 32, now wants a money-spinning unification clash with WBA and IBF champion Joshua next year and is happy to travel to England for the fight.
He said: “I’ve been waiting on the fight for a long time. I declare war upon him, do you accept my challenge?
“Joshua, come see me. No more hiding, no more ducking, no more dodging, no more excuses.
“Let’s make the fight happen. I know I’m the best, are you up for the test?
“My belt says the heavyweight champion of the world. They want to stay in the safe haven of England.
“I will go anywhere in the world. I will go to England. Make a date, don’t wait.
“The fans should throw lettuce and spit on him if it doesn’t happen. It’s about time it happens, a lot of people want to see it. They have a great thing going over there but they have to come to fight me. Why wait? Who else can they fight?
“People want to see the best fight the best, so I want to prove I’m the best.
Stir
Wilder, who is now unbeaten in 39 fights, was expected to comfortably beat Stiverne, who he took the title from two years ago.
But the emphatic nature of the win caused a stir.
However, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn still wants the fight to build further and the WBA and IBF champion is more likely to face WBO title holder Joseph Parker or a mandatory challenger next.
Hearn is set to offer ‘Bronze Bomber’ Wilder a clash with Joshua’s rival Dillian Whyte on February 3 at the O2 in London as he sees it as a chance to increase the American’s profile in the UK.
But Wilder wants the Matchroom chief to make it a two-fight contract that guarantees a clash with unbeaten star Joshua, something Hearn is reluctant to do.
Wilder said: “A king doesn’t chase a peasant. Kings chase kings, I want Joshua.
“If Joshua doesn’t give me the fight then we have other plans.
“They are trying to give me a peasant, as in Dillian Whyte, but they don’t want to put Joshua on the contract.
“Why should I go to England to fight a peasant when they won’t put the king on the contract?”