Deontay Wilder declared “war” on Anthony Joshua after defending his WBC heavyweight title for the sixth time in brutal fashion.
Wilder sent Bermane Stiverne to the canvas three times in the opening round at Brooklyn’s Barclay Centre before referee Arthur Mercante Jr stepped in.
It was the American’s 39th straight win – 38 by knockout – and immediately afterwards he threw down the gauntlet to Britain’s Joshua, who holds the IBF and WBA belts.
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Wilder said: “I’ve been waiting on that fight for a long time now. I declare war upon you. Do you accept my challenge?
“I know I’m the champion, I know I’m the best. Are you up for the test? I want Joshua. No more dodging, no more dodging, no more excuses… make the date, don’t wait.”
Joshua spoke of his desire to unify the heavyweight division following his victory over Carlos Takam in Cardiff last month but The Telegraph reports the manner of Wilder’s destruction of Stiverne may delay the showdown until 2019.
“Such was the statement from the Alabaman over an overweight Stiverne, that the fight that should be held at Wembley Stadium next summer, unifying three titles, may well have set the Joshua camp thinking about a couple more fights before the American has the opportunity to upset the gravy train.
“It has become a cat-and-mouse battle, with both sides claiming they want the unification fight, though there were also whispers here that Joshua, and promoter Eddie Hearn, may be in talks with broadcasters HBO – Joshua has one more fight on his deal with US rivals Showtime – and if that happens, we may have to wait even longer for the showdown.”
Joshua has been regarded by many as the heavyweight division’s top dog since his victory over Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium earlier this year.
But the merciless way in which Wilder disposed of Stiverne on Saturday night may prompt some to rethink that assessment with promoter Lou DiBella warning in The Guardian: “He will put Anthony Joshua to sleep. No one punches like him, no one has the reach he has, no one has the one-punch power he has. He’s the scariest heavyweight on the planet.”
