Deontay Wilder still wants to fight Anthony Joshua next despite suffering a shock loss to Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
Wilder and Joshua fought in separate bouts on the ‘Day of Reckoning’ card, with the pair due to finally face each other on March 9 if they won their respective fights.
However, Wilder was beaten on points by Parker as he slipped to the third defeat of his professional career. Joshua went on to stop Otto Wallin after five rounds, and his promoter Eddie Hearn revealed afterwards that they were due to announce a fight with Wilder on the night, but this plan went out the window after the American lost.
Wilder insists he still has his sights set on Joshua, but now believes his heavyweight rival will use the Parker loss as an excuse to avoid getting in the ring with him.
‘They really don’t want that fight. When I lost, did you see how happy he was coming out?’ Wilder told 78SPORTSTV.
Deontay Wilder (left) lost on points to Joseph Parker (right) in Saudi Arabia this past weekend
His loss appeared to leave his hopes of fighting Anthony Joshua (pictured) in tatters, but Wilder still wants to face the Brit next
‘He was like, “I ain’t gotta fight Wilder”. The rumour was he was talking about retiring if I won… March 9th, the fight still can go on. But this is a perfect way for them to get out.’
In the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s loss, Wilder strongly hinted in his post-fight interview that he may walk away from boxing as he questioned whether he still had the ‘fire’ to keep going in the sport.
But he took to Instagram later in the night to clarify that he would not be retiring. He has vowed to come back better than ever to reclaim his world titles, but admitted he needs a mentality switch to achieve his goals.
‘I’ve got to find my killer instinct back. I’m too at peace, I’m too happy,’ he added.
‘When I had that dog in me, nobody had a chance… I will be a two-time heavyweight world champion.’
Wilder’s fight against Parker was the first time he had been seen in the ring in over a year, and the ‘Bronze Bomber’ has conceded inactivity played a part in his below-par performance.
Wilder insists he can become a world champion again, and believes he is a ‘way better fighter’ than Parker despite losing to him on Saturday night
Parker has received praise from fans and pundits from nullifying Wilder’s powerful right hand, while he also rocked the ex-world champion in the eighth round of their contest.
Yet Wilder feels his opponent ‘didn’t do nothing’, and insisted he is still a ‘way better fighter’ than the Kiwi.
‘My timing was off because of inactivity. I’m disappointed because I know I’m a way better fighter than him,’ Wilder said.
‘I hurt him a few times, but certain shots I didn’t take. It was hesitation and I couldn’t understand why… He has no business beating me at all, not even on a magnificent day for him. He didn’t do nothing, neither of us really did anything.’
