AFTER his latest world title defence, WBC titlist Deontay Wilder ramped up the pressure on Anthony Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn for a 2018 heavyweight unificiation with the IBF and WBA champion.
โOur paths must cross at some point in time. Iโm saying why wait. Letโs make it now,โ Wilder said. โThereโs only so much I can say. I want to unify. Is he up for the challenge?
โI want to prove myself so bad. I never wanted to prove myself so bad. Not to me but to the world. Because so many people blame me for so many different things that donโt have anything to do with me. I tried to fight the best. I called out the best. The best havenโt accepted.โ
Joshua is the bigger, heavier man. He weighed in at 254lbs in his latest fight, Wilder was only 220ยพlbs against Bermane Stiverne. The American however shrugged it off. โIโm always low when it comes to weight but we donโt even think about it anymore,โ Wilder said. โIโm scaring heavyweights each and every time. I am the most feared.โ
He fears a Riddick Bowe-Lennox Lewis situation, where the two never fought. โIf so, you better throw your belts in the trash can because I am coming,โ he declared. โHis promoter is doing more talking than him. Heโs not even confident as a champion.
โJoshua, you can run, run, run as fast as you can. I will catch you.โ
โI want to unify the division,โ he added. โThere should be one champion, one face and one name and his name is Deontay Wilder.โ