American heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder has responded to Anthony Joshua’s call and says he is ready to fight in the United Kingdom.
Joshua, who beat Joseph Parker last weekend, holds the WBO, IBF and WBA belts and wants to face WBC holder Wilder next in a bout to decide the undisputed heavyweight champion.
Wilder has an unbeaten record of 40 wins and 39 knockouts while Joshua has 21 victories with 20 knockouts.
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In a statement, Wilder said: “First of all, I want to congratulate Anthony Joshua on his win last Saturday night. Anthony, I am so glad we finally heard from you on Saturday and that you want to fight me as your next opponent and you want the fight to happen in the UK.
“I accept that challenge and I am ready to come to the UK for my next fight. There is nothing on Team Wilder’s side to prevent me from fighting you next.
“You also said on Saturday that your team is ready to meet with [my promoter] Shelly Finkel and [my adviser] Al Haymon from my side to get this deal done. They are also ready to meet with your team immediately. Let us know when - the sooner the better. Thanks Anthony, I can’t wait to meet you in the ring.”
‘Canelo’ Alvarez withdraws from GGG rematch
The rematch between Gennady Golovkin and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has been postponed after the Mexican fighter withdrew yesterday.
In February Alvarez twice tested positive for clenbuterol and the BBC reports that he has pulled out of the 5 May fight “while he awaits the outcome of a hearing into an adverse drug test”. Alvarez’s promoters have blamed the two positive tests on “meat contamination”.
Golovkin and Alvarez’s first world middleweight title fight ended in a controversial draw last September and a rematch was ordered. Despite Alvarez pulling out, Golovkin tweeted last night that he would still fight on 5 May in Las Vegas and said an official announcement would be made soon.
Could we see Golovkin vs. Saunders?
Billy Joe Saunders’ promoter Frank Warren has offered Gennady Golovkin the chance of a huge fight in London.
British WBO champion Saunders has a broken hand and can’t fight in May, but he will be fit to return in June. Quoted by the Daily Mail, Warren said: “Golovkin has always said that he wants to get the last middleweight belt he doesn’t hold yet by fighting Billy Joe. This is the chance for both of them.
“Although Billy Joe can’t recover in time for 5 May he could go as early as the first or second Saturday in June. I am making a huge offer for Gennady to come to a football ground in London. Otherwise we are just as happy to go to Las Vegas, where Golovkin is keen to headline for the first time in his career.”
