Deontay Wilder: Anthony Joshua is a cash cow being milked by Eddie Hearn

ByTNT Sports

Updated 01/03/2018 at 11:11 GMT

Deontay Wilder believes promoter Eddie Hearn is milking Anthony Joshua as a cash cow rather than take on a fight with the WBC world champion.

Deontay Wilder poses after knocking out Bermane Stiverne in the first round during their rematch for Wilder's WBC heavyweight title at the Barclays Center on November 4, 2017 in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City

Image credit: Getty Images

The 32-year-old American faces Luis Ortiz in New York on Saturday night with Joshua due to defend his IBF and WBA belts against WBO champion Joseph Parker in Cardiff on March 31.

"We're ready on this side of the pond," said Wilder in an interview with the BBC.

"I don't believe Hearn wants this fight at all. Joshua is like a cow, Eddie Hearn is milking him for every dollar.

Boxing

Joshua backs 'phenomenal' Usyk to beat Fury as he reveals hopes for next fight

17 hours ago

Hearn knows I'm a dangerous factor to his operation. There have been no negotiations at all, no deal has been offered. But the world wants to see me and Joshua get in the ring.

Wilder is making the sixth defence of his title having in November stopped Bermane Stiverne when a match-up with Ortiz was cancelled after the Cuban, 38, tested positive for banned substances in a drugs test.

Banned diuretics chlorothiazide and hydrochlorothiazide were detected, but he avoided a ban when the WBC found he took them for high blood pressure and fined him £18,497 for failing to disclose he had taken them.

Hearn has said he would like Joshua and Wilder to fight twice if both win their respective fights, but Wilder believes the unbeaten British fighter is running scared.

Wilder, nicknamed the Bronze Bomber, has won all 39 of his professional fights, with only one of those victories being by a points decision.

"I don't think Joshua has enough confidence in himself to fight me," said Wilder. "It's all on them. If he really wants it, he can make it happen.

"I see the Parker v Joshua fight going into the later rounds. I like Parker's movement.

With Joshua's big frame and being muscular, that's OK to look the part but can he get out of the way of Parker's punches and maintain his stamina holding all that?

Boxing

'I don’t have any animosity' - Fury predicts post-match pleasantries with Usyk

27/04/2024 at 00:03

Boxing

'I'm away from all the idiots!' - Fury on how Morecambe keeps him 'grounded'

00:04:10

26/04/2024 at 20:09

Boxing

Fury v Usyk: Arum dismisses six judges 'experiment' for undisputed title showdown

24/04/2024 at 11:11