Wilder Responds to AJ’s Talk of Undisputed
On December 7, Anthony “AJ” Joshua (23-1, 21 KO’s) extracted a methodical and scientific revenge on his one-time conqueror Andy “Destroyer” Ruiz (33-2, 22 KO’s). After twelves rounds of one-way action, AJ successfully reclaimed his WBO, WBA, IBF and IBO world heavyweight titles.
BACK IN THE DRIVER SEAT
In doing so, Joshua effectively got back in the win column, as well as slew a few demons. He has now beaten the only man he’s lost to professionally and he snagged a win on the road. These are two major feathers in his cap.
Even though he has the most belts, and restored his game name, there is still a clear dispute in naming one true king of the heavyweight division. A great deal of the boxing populace believes AJ’s pedigree nominates him. Alternatively, the Wilder backers can’t see Joshua surviving his power. There are no other title holders.
In short order following his match with Ruiz, Joshua was being asked when he would face Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KO’s). There simply is no avoiding this fight.
THE BATTLE FOR THE #1 HEAD BAND
Shortly after the dust-up in the Dunes, Joshua announced over Twitter that he wanted to be the undisputed kingpin of the division. Since the WBC world heavyweight champion Wilder has the last remaining belt, this clearly was meant as a call-out. Being the direct and upfront person that he is, Wilder was quick to supply his retort to the tweet.
Wilder has been known to be rather ferocious when revealing his thoughts regarding upcoming and potential opponents. In the past, at best, the Bronze Bomber has promised to knockout his next foe and take a chunk away from him for life. At the very worst, the Bomber has vowed to put a man’s bones in the dirt. So it was striking when he was notably subdued when discussing AJ.
Clearly, the WBC champion has supreme faith that the fight will happen. As Wilder points out, the public demand is too great for either to run from the bout un-shamed. Even with this being said, the two have tried to come together and failed to find cohesion.
“We done been down this road once before. So, as boxing fans, we know how it goes now, especially the boxing fans. You can’t be fooled at this point in time. You know, from the first time. So the second time there should be more pressure, more force to the fans wanting to see one face, one name in the heavyweight division…
I think it will happen, it definitely can happen. ‘Will’ happen, you know when you put ‘will’ then you have to consider the time frame. It will happen but ‘when’ will it happen? That’s the point that I am at, when will it happen.”
NO AVOIDING FATE
In the end, their two teams were more accurately characterized by oil and water than they were peanut butter and jelly. Finding no fruitful common ground, the super fight was never contracted. That was then, and this is now.
Regardless of the climate of the fans, and the heavy attention the sport is receiving right now, each fighter has obligations to satisfy. First, Wilder must chuck knuckles with Fury, and AJ has to get past both Kubrat “The Cobra” Pulev (28-1, 14 KO’s) and Oleksandr Usyk (17-0, 13 KO’s). Provided this happens, and each remain undefeated, Wilder v Joshua will make for exciting super fight! The world would certainly be watching. Until then, the waiting game continues.
By: Bakari Simpson
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