Deontay Wilder publicly called for a fight with Anthony Joshua after the American picked up a points win over Derek Chisora. Walking past Joshua at London’s O2 Arena, Wilder exchanged a fist bump with the two-time world heavyweight champion and said, “let’s do it,” later appearing to add, “He’s scared,” as he left.
Joshua was ringside to support his friend Chisora in what was widely expected to be the veteran’s final professional bout. The 36-year-old has kept a low profile since being a passenger in a car crash in Nigeria on 29 December that killed two of his friends; Joshua suffered only minor injuries.
His last fight took place on 19 December, when he stopped Jake Paul in the sixth round, improving his record to 29 wins and four defeats. After that victory Joshua said he was ready to face long-term rival Tyson Fury next.
Fury has since ended a short retirement, announcing in January that he will return to face Arslanbek Makhmudov in the UK on 11 April.
Addressing his exchange with Joshua, Wilder later said: “It wasn’t a few words, I dapped it up with him and I said: ‘Now let’s get it on.’ I’m ready for whoever, long as these guys are in the heavyweight division, I am here. You can call me Mr Clean, because I want to clean up the whole division. The division is nothing without Deontay Wilder.”