Wilder takes a swipe at ‘little girl’ Joshua

Deontay Wilder has ramped up the pressure on Anthony Joshua to agree to a title showdown in 2018 by calling the British heavyweight “a little girl”.

American Wilder retained his WBC belt with a first round destruction of Bermane Stiverne on Saturday and has now set his sights on WBF, IBA and IBF champion Joshua.

And the 32-year-old who boasts an unbeaten 39 fight record – 38 by knockout – is so confident of beating Joshua he told the BBC he is happy for the bout to take place in Britain.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

“If Joshua’s a strong champion, a true champion, you guys in England should smoke him out, make him fight,” said Wilder. “You should see if he’s the best. My heart says I’m the best, if I’m not I want someone to show me.

“Packing out stadiums looks good but the money and Mecca of boxing is in America. But if you want to stay at home like a little girl, this king has no problem travelling to knock out the champion.”

Wilder also posted a video on Instagram challenging Joshua – who beat Carlos Takam in Cardiff last month – to stop avoiding him.

“You said if the people want it then you want it. Well, the people want it. Do you? Or do y’all have some hidden agendas? Are y’all hiding anything?

“We’re on it so either fight or shut up. Your promoter (Eddie Hearn) has talked so much. He says you’re gonna knock me out in three rounds? Let’s see it.

“I’m ready to dethrone you, I will be heavyweight champion of the world, I will defeat you. Are you up for the challenge?”

However, the prospects of Wilder getting his wish next year look slim if reports in The Sun that Joshua is in talks over a clash with New Zealand’s WBO champion Joseph Parker prove correct.

“Anthony Joshua is in negotiations to fight Joseph Parker but the finances have to be right for both boxers, Parker’s promoter said on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters in Auckland, Dave Higgins said: “Eddie Hearn [Joshua’s promoter] and I have exchanged emails. My message was Joe would fight Joshua next and Hearn’s message was that Joshua would fight Parker next. It’s now a question of the deal and money.