Deontay Wilder Values Anthony Joshua Afraid Of Fighting Himself

Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has a chance against Anthony Joshua (Instagram/@bronzebomber).

JAKARTA The former heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder, assessed that fellow world champion Anthony Joshua was afraid to enter the ring against him.

Both names have always been expected to fight when they both still control the heavyweight belt. However, their clashes never materialized.

Behind the back is starting to reappear, it is possible that they will duel again. The first quarter of next year could be the right time for them to compete in the ring.

Wilder said that Joshua did not seem to have any intention to fight him at all. This was motivated by Joshua's feeling of fear.

"I don't want to say he's 100 percent scared (against me), but I think he's 75 percent (has a feeling of fear)," said Wilder as quoted by BBC Sport.

Wilder and Joshua will be on the same card at the 23 December 2023 event in Saudi Arabia. Wilder boarded the ring against former New Zealand world champion Joseph Parker, with the main event featuring Joshua vs Otto Wallin.

If they both win the duel then the possibility of their clashes at the beginning of next year is open. However, Joshua still seems reluctant to clash Wilder.

While speaking to the BBC some time ago, the British boxer said he liked to meet Wilder. However, he wanted to aim for an IBF title first by defeating Wallin.

Wilder said so far their negotiations had much better progress. However, he did not want to guarantee that the duel could materialize.

"I've been learning for years, especially in boxing, that nothing is certain until everything is certain. I know this is a bit confusing, but what is understood doesn't need to be explained," he said.

Wilder and Joshua are currently on a comeback path after losing their titles in the last three years against Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

Joshua won twice the world after uniting the WBA, WBO, and IBF division belts with a record 26 wins and three defeats. Two of them were against Usyk who made him lose the title.

Meanwhile, Wilder held the WBC belt between 2015 and 2020. The title then disappeared after losing to Fury.