Deontay Wilder has stated that Anthony Joshua was the one responsible for the breakdown in talks when a potential fight was first being discussed.

In 2018, Joshua and Wilder appeared on course to face each other for the right to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. Joshua held the IBF, WBA and WBO belts, while Wilder held the WBC. Wilder’s camp had reportedly made an offer of $50 million for the fight, which was not taken up. Thereafter, Joshua would lose his belts to Andy Ruiz Jr. and then Oleksandr Usyk. Meanwhile, Wilder would do the same when it came to Tyson Fury. Despite the talks over a fight now happening, it will not be as big given their respective defeats since then and the absence of any belt. But looking ahead, Wilder wanted to make it clear that he was intent on making the fight. 

Wilder On AJ

"He asked for $50 million and we provided that for him and he did not take it. And the only way you can disregard that is to make a mockery of it, try to make a joke of it, try to make it seem to the public that it’s not real. It’s an ‘oh sh!t moment’. They came up with $50 million. That’s why they don’t have Joshua speaking a lot on his own behalf and if he does speak he always slips up and says things that are not appealing to his people. And they have to play clean up. It’s his management that have held him back from fighting me because, you know, he’s a fighter. It’s been over six years (waiting for the fight to be made)," Wilder

Nevertheless, the fight could happen once the pair get through their respective fights. Joshua will face Otto Wallin on December 23rd, 2023, in a mega card in Saudi Arabia. On the same bill, Wilder will face off against Joseph Parker. And provided that both fighters win in style, the calls for a Wilder-Joshua fight will increase. And yet, there would still have to be a few hurdles that need resolving. Since both fighters no longer hold belts, there is a question mark over who is the A-side.

In addition, it is not clear if Saudi Arabia will put up the fight. The fight had initially fallen through in Saudi Arabia when Skills Challenge Entertainment could not follow through with it. Thereafter, other venues were being considered before Joshua and Wilder secured their own fights on the December Saudi card. Regardless of what happens next, efforts are being made to put on the biggest fights. And that can only be a good thing for boxing fans moving forward.

"It’s going to be a really good time to go to Saudi. It’s going to be big, we haven’t seen a card like this before. This is not a one-stop shop. This is a vision, this is my first stop and I will deliver the message. I’m determined to win and get back to my peak," Joshua stated

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