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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ben Davies

Anthony Joshua offers 'proof' that Deontay Wilder avoided undisputed fight

Anthony Joshua has offered 'proof' that Deontay Wilder ducked their undisputed clash in 2018.

The pair held extensive talks over a clash for all four heavyweight belts after Joshua defeated Joseph Parker in Cardiff.

But negotiations broke down with Joshua confirming he rejected an offer worth $50million to stage the clash.

Joshua has now argued it was actually Wilder who turned down the fight, replying to a fan: "Yes I am scared. Need I say more! Let’s put this 'AJ ducked' saga to rest.

"I respect Wilder he’s a good fighter. He just wasn’t ready to fight me! If you don’t believe me. See below."

Attached to Joshua's tweet was a social media post from Wilder in 2020, which read: "When that fight was a draw, I told you that I would give you ( Tyson Fury ) a rematch. You know I was offered more money to fight Joshua than I was to fight you.

"Again being a man of my word I fought you like I said I would."

Joshua went on to hold a further defence of his unified titles against Alexander Povetkin at Wembley.

He was then challenged by Andy Ruiz who handed Joshua the first defeat of his professional career which Joshua later avenged in Saudi Arabia.

Wilder went on to face another British star Fury in a huge clash that ended in a draw before being brutally dismissed in their rematch to be handed his maiden defeat.

Would you like to see Anthony Joshua face Deontay Wilder in an interim fight? Let us know in the comments section below

Joshua insists history will show it was his American rival who avoided the fight - but he has previously admitted to being annoyed by accusations it was him.

He told Sky Sports : “It makes the ultimate sense. It’s hard because at the time when people are talking and you see lots of media stuff, you start to believe what that person is saying.

“When time goes by, naturally the truth will always reveal itself. I get a lot of stick but I take it with a pinch of salt. He admitted it. We made him a lucrative offer but he wanted to face Fury.

“So be it. If that’s what he wanted to do, fine. But he dragged my name through the mud. He has come out and said it himself. We offered him a really good deal."

Wilder later ended his trilogy rivalry with Fury in a second consecutive defeat when he was stopped for the second time, leaving him frozen out of the current title picture.

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