Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Thursday 5 april 2018

Wilder says he's ready to

fight Joshua next in UK

By JOHN ZENOR and Al Haymon are avail-
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) able to begin talks to set up
— Deontay Wilder says the fight immediately, and
he's ready to fight Anthony "the sooner the better."
Joshua in a heavyweight Joshua (21-0, 20 knockouts)
unification bout, and is will- is a huge draw in the UK. He
ing to travel overseas to won a unanimous decision
make it happen. over Joseph Parker on Sat-
Wilder called off a sched- urday before 78,000 fans
uled media conference in Cardiff, Wales. He now
call Tuesday, instead issu- holds four title belts, while
ing a statement saying he's Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) is the
open to fighting Joshua WBC champion.
next in the United Kingdom. Wilder has defended his
"Anthony, I am so glad WBC belt six times, all with
we finally heard from you stoppages. He's coming off
on Saturday and that you a 10th-round knockout of
want to fight me as your previously unbeaten Luis
next opponent and you Ortiz on March 3.
want the fight to happen The Joshua-Wilder winner
in the UK," Wilder said. "I ac- would be the first undisput- In this March 3, 2018, file photo, Deontay Wilder poses for photographs after the WBC heavyweight
cept that challenge and I ed heavyweight champion champion defeated Luis Ortiz in New York.
am ready to come to the since Lennox Lewis in 2000. Associated Press
UK for my next fight. There "I will get all five of the belts,"
is nothing on Team Wilder's Joshua said after the Parker year, but called Wilder's think the purse should be days after shouting into his
side to prevent me from fight. "It's not an issue." representatives "erratic a 50-50 split because he phone on a video posted
fighting you next." Joshua promoter Eddie and unpredictable." holds four belts. on Twitter: "Joshua? Josh-
The Alabama native said Hearn said afterward the One potential bone of But Wilder's statement ua? Stop playing, and pick
co-managers Shelly Finkel fight needs to happen this contention: Joshua doesn't struck a polite tone a few up the phone!"q