Last week Deontay Wilder confused and shocked the boxing scene when he publically stated on an American morning radio show that he wants a body on his professional boxing record.
“I want a body on my record, I want one. I don’t get nervous, I don’t get scared, I don’t get butterflies, I don’t have no feeling towards the man I’m fit to fight,” said the WBC champion.
Wilder also spoke about his devastating knockout win over Arthur Szpilka during which he thought that the polish boxer wasn’t breathing.
“I thought I had one one time with [Artur] Szpilka because he wasn’t breathing when he hit the canvas. Somebody is going to go,” continued Wilder.
Wilder has received a great deal of backlash over his comments, including from the president of the WBC Mauricio Sulaiman.
It’s not acceptable and the WBC disciplinary committee will look into this delicate matter https://t.co/Zr6DJh46jx
— Mauricio Sulaiman (@wbcmoro) March 31, 2018
I have known @BronzeBomber for a long time, I respect him and do not believe he could say that he wants to kill someone in the ring
— Mauricio Sulaiman (@wbcmoro) March 31, 2018
The WBA, WBO, IBF & IBO World heavyweight champion also shared his thoughts on Wilder’s comments.
“I don’t condemn that but each to their own. The same thing with the judges and the refs, it’s not my job to kind of talk about what they do. Wilder is Wilder, innit. That’s what you’re going to get. That’s what he wants to do,” said Joshua after his fight with Joseph Parker.
?ThaBronzeBomber
Check out my alter ego from DeontayWilder Vs TheBronzeBomber on the @breakfastclubam **Scary**#BombZquad pic.twitter.com/OLCRedTZav
— Deontay Wilder (@BronzeBomber) April 2, 2018
‘AJ’ says that he prays for his opponent’s health before a fight and definitely does not want any casualties on his record.
“I would not want a body on my record. I say my little prayer in the corner. I pray to success and I pray for his [opponent’s] health and I pray for him to be safe,” he added.
Joshua then continued:
“I even made sure I spoke to Parker’s mum before she left. I said ‘pat your son on the back, he’s done well and he’ll be back’, that goes a long way. Why do I want to kill her son in the ring? But each to their own. For me – that’s not who I am. For him [Wilder], let’s not belittle him for what he says. That’s who he is and we accept him for it.”
Joshua has stated that the next target is Wilder and the WBC World heavyweight belt. Luckily for fight fans, that could happen sooner than later according to Wilder’s management.
“Assuming it will be Wembley Stadium in the summer, we are ready, and if they are ready as they say they are, we want to get it done.
“We are happy to come over and meet face to face. We think a 60/40 split is fair. Let’s not have any roadblocks, let’s make the fight. If they want it in the UK, fine,” said Wilder’s co-manager Shelly Finkel according to The Daily Telegraph.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn agrees that the fight has to happen this year and as soon as possible.
“Yeah it has to happen this year because at some point you’re gonna have to drop a belt and the whole point of the Wilder fight is to win the final belt. We don’t really want to drop a belt and then fight Wilder which could still happen but it’s not quite the history that it could be,” said Hearn after Joshua-Parker.
Eddie Hearn ?
"Sat in the office 5 years ago with a plan. One more to go." ??? pic.twitter.com/ePlLK1BUM0
— Boxing Exposure (@Boxing_Exposure) April 1, 2018
READ MORE:
Deontay Wilder ready to fight at Wembley this summer says manager
Anthony Joshua earns decision victory over Joseph Parker
WATCH: Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury react to Anthony Joshua’s fight
