WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder had some strong words regarding Anthony Joshua.
In a recent media call, WIlder spoke to Fightful regarding a number of topics, including his upcoming fight against Tyson Fury and the trash talking between the two boxers, as well as his thoughts on Joshua.
Wilder touched upon the cultural differences concerning how Joshua is treated in his native United Kingdom compared to how he is viewed in the United States. The WBC champion believes that Joshua has let his countrymen down by not fighting Wilder and added that the current unified champion can't beat either Wilder or Fury in a fight.
“America is totally different. As far as I'm concerned, this right here will tell the world in the heavyweight division who is the best of the best because I don't feel Joshua can beat me, nor can he beat Fury. I personally, I've got a strong opinion and a strong feeling about that. I don't feel that would happen," Wilder said.
Not only did Wilder criticize Joshua for not accepting a fight against him, but also how Matchroom Boxing, Joshua's promoter, handled heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz when Ortiz was briefly signed to Matchroom Boxing. Despite Ortiz being a heavyweight contender and being primed for a title shot against Joshua after defeating Wladimir Klitschko in 2017, a fight between Joshua and Ortiz never occurred.
"He had two opportunities to prove to the world, not only to his country but to the world that he's the best. Not only with me, but with Luis Ortiz. We already know the story how they collected that, had that man over their fighting for nothing like he was a clown entertaining the people. They were scared of him, they wanted to hold him so they wouldn't have to fight him and that's just sad. That aren't showing you the best. I don't think he has the heart. The man's had to prove that he's the best and if he does, his people don't, that's who runs him. He doesn't run his career like we thought it was," Wilder said.
Fightful will have live coverage of the full card, taking place from the Staples Center in Los Angeles and there will be a live podcast after the event. You can listen to Wilder's conversation with Fightful in the video above.
