Joshua Doesn’t Want To Face Wilder – Says Malik Scott

In the latest boxing news, Deontay Wilder’s trainer, Malik Scott, has accused Anthony Joshua of not wanting to face the ‘Bronze Bomber.’

According to reports, the bout has collapsed in Saudi Arabia after Skills Challenge were no longer able to get it over the line. The shift in power within Saudi boxing has resulted in the General Sports Authority having the final say over which fights are put on in Saudi.

As a result, they were pivotal in getting Tyson Fury’s fight with Francis Ngannou over the line. And since they have aligned themselves with Frank Warren, Matchroom and Joshua have been left in the dark.

Although that may be the case, Eddie Hearn has expressed his desire to find other venues. While the purses are likely to be a lot smaller than what the fighters could have gotten in Saudi, Malik felt that Joshua was wanting to avoid the fight.

Scott On AJ-Wilder

“When you’re the hardest puncher in the history of the sport, it’s very hard for guys to want to fight you. I’m going to say a number. Four million dollars. Fighters would rather stay poor than make four million dollars [fighting Deontay]. That’s a tragedy. They’d rather ask for 15 or 20 [million], knowing it’s not on the table for them, but they’d rather ask for that.

“It’s insane. They know it does [have PPV upside fighting Wilder], but you got to understand it because their life is on the line, and it really is. Deontay is one of those fighters that can cut your switch off completely with one shot, and that’s what most fighters don’t want to face that specimen. They’d rather than like it and draw attention to their name, but do they really want to fight him? [Luis] Ortiz really wanted to fight him,” Malik said

Nevertheless, moving forward, a bout with Wilder is a high-risk, low-reward fight. Aside from the financials, a belt is not on the line.

Meanwhile, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s bout does have a rematch clause included. The winner will be required to face the IBF mandatory Filip Hrgovic.

But if the rematch clause is enforced instead, then Hrgovic would be required to face Joshua for the vacant belt, giving the Brit another title shot that would be considered a lot easier. That is why Malik has questioned Joshua’s intentions.

Wilder’s Frustration

“We know the ones that really want to fight Deontay, and the ones that are trying to have their names attached to his so they can bring in more commercial and more marketing to themselves in their brand. We’re not interested in that. I just want him to fight. I’m so frustrated. He’s my brother. I love him. To me, out of all this s**t, he’s the one that’s not benefiting from it because it’s inactivity,” Malik

Wilder and Joshua may not be as big as it could have been. However, the ability of both fighters to end the fight with a knockout is why there is still an appetite to see it happen.