Deontay Wilder has accused Anthony Joshua of “not having the heart” or “courage” to fight him ahead of the pair’s separate bouts at the ‘Day of Reckoning’ this weekend – live on TNT Sports Box Office.
Wilder and Joshua take part in heavyweight fights against Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker respectively in the two co-main events on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In the build-up to one of boxing’s most stacked ever cards, former WBO world champion Wilder believes Joshua’s camp is fearful of getting a deal done, with the two potentially set to meet if they both triumph on Saturday night.
“Money hasn’t been the issue. It comes with not having the heart, the will, the courage to step in the ring,” Wilder told BBC Sport.
“I don’t really just blame it on Joshua. I blame it on his handlers, on his promotion and his management. Because let’s face it Joshua is the cash cow of the company.
“Without him, no money is drawn into Matchroom. We all know that. Not only do I feel Joshua is intimidated of me, but I feel his promoter is as well. That’s why the fight that hasn’t happened.”
The 38-year-old’s immediate focus is on Parker, but admits the constant noise surrounding a potential future fight with Joshua is looming large in the build-up.
“Joshua is the biggest fight in comeback sport, period. When people talk to me, the main thing they talk about is me and him, all the time.
“It applies pressure because the world wants to see [it].”
Wilder heads in Saturday’s showdown against the New Zealander with his last fight coming against Robert Helenius in October 2022, which only lasted one round.
When asked if that would be a concern ahead of the fight, he added: “Not at all.
“When I look at that I just think I’m just reserved, I’m just fresh right now, and just ready to go.
“Most of all, [I’m] just excited. Although this is a short-notice fight that we both have, I’m a world-class athlete. This is nothing short of what I’m used to.”
How to watch ‘Day of Reckoning’
‘Day of Reckoning’ costs £19.99 in the UK and can be watched through DAZN or TNT Sports Box Office and is available via the DAZN app on Smart TVs, streaming sticks, tablets, laptops and game consoles, Virgin Media TV, Sky and EE TV.
You do not need to be a subscriber to buy this event and more information on all the ways you can watch can be found at www.dayofreckoning.co.uk.
DAZN customers can purchase the fight on www.DAZN.com or via the DAZN app, accessed on their Smart TVs, streaming sticks, laptop, tablets, mobiles and games consoles.
Virgin Media TV customers in the UK: customers with a TiVo and/or V6 set-top-box should visit the On-Demand section and choose Live Events; customers with a Virgin TV 360 and/or Stream set-top-box should go to the Pay Per View Events rail.
EE TV customers can go to channel 495 and pay using their remote control.
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