WBA and IBF heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua has warned WBC Champion, Deontay Wilder against climbing into the ring to issue a challenge when he faces Joseph Parker on March 31, as he was only interested in signed fights and not 'hype'. According to Sky Sports, Wilder would be watching the fight from the side of the ring as part of Sky Sports team and could jump into the ring to throw a challenge. But Joshua is warning the American to think twice before doing so.
In an exclusive chat with Sky Sports, Joshua said
"He's been at my [Wladimir] Klitschko fight and I've watched him in Sheffield when he fought Audley Harrison. He's flying over to come and watch me fight Joseph Parker, and this is what it's about - it's building up to that big clash.
'If he wants to come over, get in the ring and all that stuff - I just prefer it if he had a fight in place to talk about, because if not, it's just hype. I'm a unified heavyweight champion. We're talking about the undisputed heavyweight champion, and that's what we're building towards.
"Yes, he's more than welcome, but the difference is - when Klitschko come over to watch me in Manchester, we had signed a deal. It was signed and sealed, provided I won. With Wilder, I'm just not into the hype. If he wants to come over, get in the ring and all that stuff - I just prefer it if he had a fight in place to talk about, because if not, it's just hype."
He revealed that his team had reached out to Wilder to arrange a fight but said they are yet to reach a deal.
"No-one wants to hear about - this percentage, who is ring walking first. They just want to know that we're going to fight. They don't care about the business and all that stuff that goes on in the background.
"That's why I don't want to get into the ring and turn it into a hype job. I want to give the fans what they want.
"I have been in touch with their camp since last December after I fought [Carlos] Takam, and it's something that we have been working on slowly, and we'll get there for sure."
