Deontay Wilder Gives His Thoughts on Rising UK Prospect Anthony Joshua

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    wilder-deontay-wilder-heavyweight_3190718As he closes in on his first challenge for a world title, heavyweight knockout artist Deontay Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs) shared his thoughts on his UK counterpart Anthony Joshua (10-0, 10 KOs) in an article published on skysports.com.

    “It’s still early in his career. I can’t really say that he’s going to do this or he’s going to do that.”

    Wilder will contest for the WBC version of the heavyweight belt against Bermane Stiverne (24-1, 21 KOs) beneath the glaring lights of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 17th. He will finally get a chance to validate his image as one of the most dangerous fighters in the game if he manages a comprehensive victory over Stiverne, and puts an end to the criticism he has received due to the lack of name recognition in the opponents he has faced thus far.

    Perhaps it is a difference between the cultures on each side of the Atlantic, but Anthony Joshua has begun his own post-amateur career in exactly the same fashion as did Wilder, except the fans in the UK practically worship Joshua. Wilder seems to have lot of admiration for that kind of loyalty.

    “The thing about the UK, I like how you guys – when you see potential in a guy – you automatically cling on to them and push them out as if he’s a world champion. That’s not a bad thing.”

    If there is a hint of lamentation in that comment as he mentions the pressure of having a nation’s hopes on one’s shoulders as Joshua seems to have even in this, the embryonic stage of his career.

    “I like that, but there is something called pressure that can be applied to a person, to make them feel like they have to perform. They have to fulfil that legacy that people have already built.”

    We will see for ourselves how Wilder deals with the expectations hanging over his own head on the 17th, with opinions surprisingly split as to who will get the win. I’m backing Wilder. As for Joshua, his title aspirations are a long way from materializing, even more so now that he has been forced to withdraw from his next fight having aggravated an existing back injury that was scheduled for January 31st against veteran Kevin Johnson and would have been a good barometer of his progression if he was made to go a few rounds. More than likely it would have been over quite quickly in the young Brit’s favor.