Tyson Fury says he’s convinced Deontay Wilder would beat Anthony Joshua – and claims AJ turned down a staggering £64million payday to face ‘The Bronze Bomber’.
Streaming platform DAZN reportedly offered Wilder (42-1-1) $100million for a three-fight deal – including two against Joshua – in March 2019. But the offer was turned down and Eddie Hearn – whose Matchroom promotes Joshua – believes that Wilder’s team just did not want the fight at that time.
Fury (30-0-1) though has a very difficult view on what happened, claiming Joshua didn’t want any part of Wilder. He told IFL TV: ‘I have to give it to Wilder, he has got the bottle and he wanted to fight the best. When I was out of the ring retired, he tried to fight Joshua twice, it was going on for ages – we all know that.
“They offered him $80million (equivalent to £64million) for a two-fight deal, and I know a few people who saw proof of the funds and people who I definitely trust and he refused it. I don’t think they are going to get any bigger paydays than that. They refused it because they were scared of getting chinned by the Bronze Bomber.”
Fury, who said earlier this week that only he and slick southpaw Oleksandr Usyk would give Wilder any trouble, believes ‘The Bronze Bomber’ would have no problem in putting paid to Joshua.
He said: “Wilder beats Joshua 100 percent, 100million percent. Wilder beats Joshua, Whyte, Jarrell Miller. One touch from the Bronze Bomber and their faces are gone forever. Wilder would do to Whyte and Joshua what he did to Dominic Breazleale – he would put them unconscious in round one. They do not have the skills that I have got, this cannot be touched.
“I just want to see them fight because they keep calling Wilder this and that but they have no defence and as soon as he touches them, they are gone. Could they walk him down without any feints or footwork? Please. They will be 44 and 45 on his record, I would back Wilder to knock them out for sure.”
While Joshua vs Wilder remains remains just a missed opportunity for boxing right now, Fury vs Wilder is not. ‘The Gypsy King’ is currently preparing for their third showdown later this year. The first bout ended in a controversial draw in Los Angeles in December 2018 after Fury twice got up off the floor to hear the final bell.
‘The Gypsy King’ made no mistake in the eagerly-awaited rematch in Las Vegas in February 2020, battering Wilder to a seventh-round TKO – the first defeat of his professional career. The win gave Fury the WBC world heavyweight title.
