Wilder wants Klitschko-Fury II winner at Barclays Center or in UK

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Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder

WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has never been one to mince his words. Should he get past the difficult obstacle currently in his way — 2004 Olympic gold medalist Alexander Povetkin — he wants the winner of the Wladimir Klitschko and Tyson Fury rematch.

If Klitschko wins, Wilder (36-0, 35 KOs) suggests the Barclays Center in Brooklyn as the perfect venue for such an event. But what if Fury wins? Wilder wants to travel to the UK to put on a proper spectacle in front of thousands of die-hard British fight fans.

“After this fight, I want the winner of Klitschko and Fury. If it’s Fury, I would love to go to England. If it’s Klitschko, let’s go to the Barclays Center,” Wilder told our own Nestor Gibbs in an exclusive interview with Tha Boxing Voice.

“I think it’ll be bigger and better (in the UK), more money that way,” he added. “You talking about from an arena to a soccer field stadium.”

Prior to touching on his potential future plans, the 30-year-old American heayweight emphasized that right now he’s only focused on Povetkin, but also mentioned that he’s always thinking about the future. That’s wise in both regards, because while there are several other big-money fights to be made in the division right now, Povetkin (30-1, 22 KOs) is far too talented to look past. Not to mention the fight is in Moscow.

Povetkin’s lone defeat came in a poorly reffed 12-round decision loss to Klitschko in 2013, a fight in which Klitschko hugged enough to make John Ruiz cringe. Had Klitschko been correctly warned and given subsequent point deductions for excessive holding, the entire complexion of the fight might have changed. Instead, Klitschko was allowed to grab at will which thwarted pretty much all of Povetkin’s opportunities on the inside.

Wilder will need to continuously pump his jab to keep Povetkin at bay since Wilder doesn’t clinch often. Of course, a stiff jab will also help him set up his power shots. The jab will definitely be the key for The Bronze Bomber if he hopes to beat his 36-year-old Russian opponent.

Win or lose, Wilder’s willingness to travel and take on all comers is a refreshing trait to see in not just the heavyweight division, but in any division. Little known fact: When Wilder takes on Povetkin in Russia, it’ll be the fifth country he’s fought in. In addition to his homeland, he previously won fights in Mexico, the UK and Puerto Rico.

“Now that I’m willing to travel all over, that’s going to allow (other heavyweights) to be like, ‘Hey, let me travel all over as well too, let’s do it.’ Let’s make it a cycle. Let everybody eat — different countries — not just have it here,” Wilder said.

“When you say a world champion, I wouldn’t really accept being a heavyweight champ of the world if I didn’t travel. If I just fought here in the United States (then) I’m a heavyweight champ of the world, but you might as well say of the nation.”

Maybe the “Bomb Zquad,” as Team Wilder is affectionately known, should also adopt the nickname the “Nomad Zquad” if Wilder continues venturing around the globe as he says he plans to. Wilder and Povetkin do battle at the Khodynka Ice Palace on May 21.