The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Deontay Wilder

  • I’ll have made it, once I get the last title — Joshua

    Unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua says he will only feel he has “made it” in boxing if he captures Deontay Wilder’s World Boxing Council (WBC) title.

    Joshua, the World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organisation (WBC) champion, faces Andy Ruiz Jr on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

    Joshua said: “Yeah, it looks like I have made it but it’s only when I put my hand on the last title – and win on Saturday – then I can say I have made it.

    Read Also: Joshua calls for tougher stance on fighters

    “It’s been down to calculated steps. It’s been a good journey, a tough journey. On the sides of the journey there are billboards, then with time, two billboards but it’s all about winning in this sport.

    “I haven’t put a foot wrong yet and I am not looking to put a foot wrong on Saturday either.”

    Saturday’s fight at Madison Square Garden will see AJ end nine months of inactivity, during which talks with Deontay Wilder have yielded nothing in the shape of a historic contest where one man could win all four heavyweight world titles for the first time.

  • Deontay Wilder reveals acting passion ahead of Tyson Fury clash

    It was on the eve of his heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury that Deontay Wilder revealed his true passion in life laid outside the boxing ring.

    And now it seems the American is taking steps towards fulfilling his acting ambition in 2019.

    The Bronze Bomber posted a couple of Instagram snaps of himself outside and inside a trailer on a movie set, revealing that an exciting project is in the pipeline.

    Whether he will become as famous as his movie star namesake Gene, who featured in Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory among many others – remains to be seen.

    Without letting slip the precise details, Wilder wrote that “God has blessed me to be able to do something else that I’m very passionate about and that’s acting.”

    He added: “2019 – Big things popping. Just wait until you see the Champ in Lights, Camera, Action.”

    Wilder looked delighted to be getting the chance to follow another of his dreams, as revealed in an interview before his thrilling draw with Fury in Los Angeles last month.

  • Wilder vs. Tyson: Dstv Takes Bout Close to Nigeria

    There are indications that Nigerian fans would not be left out as global attention in the world of sport is anticipate the world heavyweight bout between WBC American champions Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury; a British lineal champion.

    Both professional boxers are champions in their own rights and are set to go into the fight unbeaten in their combined 67 professional bouts. The fight is expected to be watched by millions across the world including without exempting Nigeria.

    What has been the arrangement for the broadcast of the bout, when is the bout and where is the bout taking place get the gist below?

    When is it?

    This weekend. Saturday, December 1, 2018 (but Sunday December 2 in the UK).

    Where is it?

    Staples Center (Los Angeles).

    How to Watch the Fight Live

    DStv Premium customers can watch the fight LIVE on SuperSport.

    Boxing fans outside Africa will be able to watch the fight on Pay-Per-View but DStv Premium customers and customers who upgrade to premium can enjoy the match at no extra cost on SuperSport 1 on channel 221.

    The fight will be aired live at 3am.

    Conversation on the fight can be joined online using hashtag #SSBoxing and follow @DStvNg on Twitter, Instagram: @dstvnigeria.

    FACTs ahead the Fight

    Amidst all the excitement about the upcoming fight, here are things you probably didn’t know about one of boxing’s biggest nights:

    1. Deontay is the defending champion – While this may be common knowledge for the average boxing fan, many may not know that Deontay Wilder is currently the defending champion and Fury is the challenger. Fury challenged Deontay after Wilder defeated Arthur Szpilka at the Barclays Center in New York.
    1. This will be Wilder’s first match at the Staples Center – The sure to be iconic match will be Wilder’s first fight at the Staples Center in his entire 40-fight career. The Staples Center won the rights to host the fight before other venues in Las Vegas and New York.
    1. Both fighters remain unbeaten in their combined 67 professional bouts in a fight – Both Fury and Wilder have very impressive fighting records. While Fury has won all his 27 fights with 19 TKOs to his credit, Wilder has won all his 40 fights with 39 TKOs.
    1. The two boxers stand to go home with a big pay –

    It is believed that Wilder stands to earn $14m for the showdown while Fury is expected to pocket $10m.

    1. Wilder’s nickname is the Bronze Bomber while Fury is the Gypsy King –

    To avoid confusion during the bout, when the commentators refer to the boxers with their nicknames, one should note that Deontay Wilder is the ‘Bronze Bomber’ while Tyson Fury is popularly referred to as the ‘Gypsy King’.

    1. Fury was born three months premature

    Fury claims that he has been fighting before he was born not only because he is a Gypsy but also because he was born three months premature and only weighed 0.5kg.

  • No date for Joshua, Wilder bout yet

    NationSport has gathered that no date is agreed yet for the unification showdown between Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua.

     Wilder on Sunday however confirmed that the bout will happen.

    The Bronze bomber claimed that he is willing to fight the WBA, IBF, IBO and WBO champion in his home country or in America.

    Wilder, 32, said the fight will be in September if it’s in the UK and in November if it happens in America.

    Speaking to Fight Hub TV, the American said: “We’re still in negotiations so I don’t have a time frame on it just yet but I want everyone to know the fight will happen.

    “If we have it in England it’ll be September – if it’s here in American it’ll be November.

    But AJ has insisted it will take place in the UK, claiming he wants to avoid the “tricks” of American judges and referees.

    And the Watford-born bruiser has insisted that he is willing to lose £15m to secure the fight on home soil.

    The American, who holds the WBC title, went on to question the character of AJ and his team after he claimed that he would take the fight if he was guaranteed $50 million.

    He added: “If they still serious – we been serious this whole way through, Joshua said he wanted the $50m he’ll sign tomorrow.

    “We did exactly what he did and he didn’t sign so that shows you his character already or his team character.

  • Anthony Joshua begged to get $80 million to fight Deontay Wilder in America

    PROMOTER Frank Warren has urged Anthony Joshua to accept Deontay Wilder’s offer to make their potential match-up happen in the US.

    Talks of a showdown between unified heavyweight champion Joshua and American Wilder have been materialising for some time.

    The fight will act as the first time a heavyweight contest will be competed for all four of the main organisation’s world titles, with Joshua owning the IBF, WBA, and WBO straps and Wilder the WBC belt.

    Both teams have claimed they want the fight while their rival do not, however Wilder took to social media to publicly offer Joshua £50million to fight him with details later emerging that the fight being hosted in the US must be part of the deal.

    Promoter Eddie Hearn responded to the offer by questioning whether the offer was genuine or a PR stunt, while Joshua claimed the fight must take place in the UK to reward his loyal fan base.

    Hearn’s rival promoter, Frank Warren, had his say on the matter when speaking with Boxing News, claiming team ‘AJ’ must accept an offer to travel stateside.

    Warren said: ‘They’re saying they don’t want to go to the States and Anthony is saying he owes a UK fight to his fans. I’ll tell you what, Ricky Hatton’s fans had the best days out in Vegas.

    ‘They loved it. Do they really want to do it? You can only assume the reason it’s not happening is because they’re paying him 80 million dollars for his next two fights in the UK.’

    Warren also commented on Hearn’s claim that the funds Wilder initially offered should be called into question.

    ‘First of all, there was a genuine offer made of a guarantee of 50 million dollars,’ Warren said. ‘Whatever happens, he’s going to get 50 million.

    ‘Then, in accordance to the rematch clause, he’d get 30 million. So, over the course of six months he could stand to make 80 million dollars, minimum. That was the deal.’

    Hearn recently signed a $1 billion deal with sports streaming company DAZN to broadcast events in the US and UK, and although Joshua was not part of the deal, Warren suggested the huge money partnership could be the reason behind rejecting a Wilder offer.Warren said: ‘I’d take it (an offer to fight Wilder) where’s he going to get a guaranteed 80 million dollars in the next six months? But they must be guaranteeing him that, otherwise why would they turn it down? They must have guaranteed Joshua 80 million out of that billion they’ve got.’

  • Boxing: Wilder offers Joshua $50m for unification bout

    Deontay Wilder, World Boxing Council (WBC) Heavy Weight Champion on Thursday offered Nigerian-born British World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Anthony Joshua a whopping 50 million dollars (about N18 billion) for a unification fight.

    The hugely anticipated fight would determine who becomes the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

    The proposed bout is expected to hold between September and December at a venue of Wilder’s choice.

    Joshua, 28, is the new International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Organisation (IBO) and World Boxing Organisation (WBO) title holder.

    He recently defeated Joseph Parker by unanimous decision to remain unbeaten in 21 bouts and add
    the IBF title to his illustrious boxing career.

    Wilder, 32 who defeated Luis Ortiz in his last bout in March revealed in a video posted on Twitter that he expects Joshua to be a man of his words by accepting the offer.

    “All the money is in the bag so I expect you will be a man of your word,” Wilder said in a video he posted on his Twitter handle in response to Joshua claiming he would accept a bout with the American for 50 million dollars.

    “Tell Eddie Hearn to let you personally check his email this time. By the way, I sent your manager Rob McCracken the email as well.

    “I’m looking forward to our meeting in the ring,” Wilder twitted.

    Meanwhile, Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel also confirmed to ESPN that an offer had been made to Joshua.

    Finkel added that the offer includes no rematch clause and that it would be the next fight for each boxer, taking place between September and December at a venue of Wilder’s choice

     

  • Boxing: Parker, bigger all-round threat than Wilder, says Joshua

    Britain’s Anthony Joshua says his next opponent, WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, is a better-rounded fighter than Deontay Wilder.
    This was reported by Reuters on Wednesday.

    Joshua did not appear overly impressed with the WBC belt holder’s recent win over Luis Ortiz.

    The British holds the WBA, IBF and IBO crowns and boasts a perfect 20-0 record.

    The 28-year-old has exchanged jibes with American Wilder, who has won all 40 of his fights.

    But while many boxing fans are talking of a clash between the two, Joshua says he is looking no further than New Zealander, Parker.

    “Parker is a better all-rounder,” Joshua told reporters at his training camp.

    “He has a good left hook, right hand, he wings a right to the body, and he likes a left hook to the body. I haven’t seen Wilder throw that many body shots.

    Read Also: DEONTAY WILDER: I’ll burst Anthony Joshua’s hype

    “Wilder relies on the right hand. There has never been one champion in the heavyweight division that relied solely on power and one punch.
    “Parker has an all-round game. That is what makes it a dangerous fight,” he said.
    Wilder retained his title with a win against Ortiz this month but Joshua was not dazzled by his rival’s victory over the 38-year-old Cuban.

    “When he won, I just thought he’s supposed to do that,” Joshua said.

    He added that “by my 40th fight, no one should be giving me problems. By my 40th fight, I should be a seasoned professional.”
    Joshua will fight Parker at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on March 31.

    NAN

  • Joshua vs Deontay $250m bout for Las Vegas

    Joshua vs Deontay $250m bout for Las Vegas

     

    Promoter Lou DiBella has confirmed that Las Vegas would be the most likely location for a potential lucrative heavyweight unification showdown between Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua, while former champion Evander Holyfield has encouraged the duo to fight “while the money’s there”.

    Undefeated WBC title-holder Wilder came through comfortably the toughest test of his 40-fight professional career to date on Saturday night [3 March], when he survived a real scare before stopping Cuban Luis “King Kong” Ortiz in the 10th round of his brutal and explosive seventh defence at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

    It was a performance that further emphasised the concussive punching power possessed by ‘The Bronze Bomber’, while highlighting his heart and formidable durability. Nevertheless, the display also raised further questions regarding his highly unorthodox fighting style and technical abilities.

    Talk of a much-anticipated meeting with WBA, IBF and IBO champion Joshua dominated the build-up to that bout – one which drew plenty of comparisons with the latter’s memorable defeat of Wladimir Klitschko in April 2017 – and predictably remained the hot topic of conversation in the ring afterwards, with the self-styled “baddest man on the planet” reiterating that he was ready to unify boxing’s blue-riband division.

    “How many times do I got to call him [Joshua] out? How many times? They hiding,” Wilder said, as relayed by ESPN. “His promoter [Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn] don’t want that fight and after tonight they definitely won’t want it. I’ve done enough, I’ve spoken enough.”

    Though Joshua has significantly pulling power in the United Kingdom, as evidenced by him selling out both Wembley and Cardiff’s Principality Stadium after outgrowing the O2 Arena, a meeting with Wilder would likely happen across the Atlantic due to the more lucrative financial sums on offer.

    And while DiBella admits that New York is a potential option and that Wilder would be willing to travel to the United Kingdom for big money, boxing’s spiritual home in Las Vegas – specifically the 20,000-seater T-Mobile Arena – definitely appears to be the front-runner.

  • DEONTAY WILDER: I’ll burst Anthony Joshua’s hype

    DEONTAY WILDER: I’ll burst Anthony Joshua’s hype

    Deontay Wilder might speak at a million words a minute, but he does not waste them on idle threats. The American World Boxing Council heavyweight champion once challenged a man who had insulted his daughter, Naieya, who has spina bifida, to spar with him at his gym. The results were not pretty.

    Now Wilder has a different target in mind. Without overlooking his opponent in New York on Saturday night – the 38-year-old Cuban Luis Ortiz – Wilder’s sights are firmly set on “bursting the hype bubble” of heavyweight rival Anthony Joshua.

    A combination of the profane and the profound, whose subjects of conversation shift quickly as his feet in the ring, Wilder used an exclusive interview with Telegraph Sport to deride Joshua’s class, suggesting that British fans had “been brainwashed by Eddie Hearn that Joshua is the heavyweight Messiah”, and that the returning Tyson Fury will be a tougher fight for him.

    Wilder, who is making the seventh defence of his crown in Brooklyn, believes that boxing fans deserve to know within 12 months “who the true, undisputed heavyweight champion of the world really is.”

    “I have been trying to fight Joshua for two years, and Tyson Fury for five years,” says Wilder. “Is Joshua vulnerable to my style? Of course he is. I have a very strange style you can’t prepare for. I’m unpredictable. I’m difficult to adjust against, to prepare for. And I’m a scary person. People criticise my style, say ‘he fights wild’ but look what happened to the 38 men who fought me.”

  • Who’s next after Joshua KOs Klitschko to become boxing king?

    Who’s next after Joshua KOs Klitschko to become boxing king?

    Who is next for the king?

    Answer to that question is not far fetched. To pugilists and the Nigerian born British newest boxing king Anthony Olaseni Joshua there are two obvious fights next up for him.

    He can either face Tyson Fury, who beat Klitschko all those months ago, or the American Deontay Wilder, who has 38 straight wins, 37 of which are by knockout.

    View image on Twitter
    Tyson Fury tweeted immediately Joshua won saying @Tyson_Fury
    Wellldone @anthonyfjoshua good fight, you had life & death with @klitschko & I played with the guy, let’s dance

    After the fight Joshua was big on the possibility of fighting Fury.

    ” “Tyson Fury, where you at baby? Come on, is that what you want to see? I enjoy fighting. I love fighting. Tyson Fury I know he has been talking a lot and wants to come back and compete. I want to give 90,000 people another chance to come back and watch some boxing here,”  he said.

    The truth is that it doesn’t matter any more.

    Joshua is the biggest name in boxing and one of the biggest names in the world of sport.

    Wilder and Fury would both be lucky to face Joshua and in truth they would be lucky to come out of a bout with their chins intact.

    Anthony Joshua Vladimir Klitschko

    Anthony Joshua Vladimir KlitschkoGetty Images

    Neither have shown anything recently (Fury hasn’t fought since Klitschko 17 months ago) to suggest they could live with Joshua, who has proven himself against one of the greatest of all-time.

    They’ll both present tests in their own way, Fury in particular could pose real problems if he’s in shape, but nothing like the test Joshua’s right hand presents.

    If anyone is going to unify the belts, it is going to be Joshua.

    And Klitschko?

    Klitschko is one of sport’s great gentlemen. The respect between himself and Joshua was clear for all to see and the fact that Klitschko was so much better on Saturday night than against Fury demonstrates how he felt he needed to be at his best.

    Even at the age of 41 Klitschko showed that he too deserves a place in the pantheon of the greats and if he were to retire there would be no shame; he did himself justice in this fight.

    That is for him to decide though. He will be disappointed with this result but he can be proud of the part he played in this incredible story.

    History shouldn’t, and won’t, forget what Klitschko has achieved in his career, and for the grace with which he conducted himself. Joshua is his true heir out of the ring as well as inside it.

    REASONS WHY KLITSCHKO LOST

    Nigerian analysts  as published today in one of the national dailies(online medium) there are four major reasons whythe 41 years old but with more experiences Klitschko, lost the bout to Joshua

    1. Age

    At 41, Klitschko though still very much the athlete was visibly tired by the end of the ninth round. Anthony Joshua, who is 14 years younger, wouldn’t have lasted the distance against the rampaging Ukrainian when he was in his 30s.

    2. That sixth round goof

    The much-experienced Klitschko entered the ring with an incredible stat, 53 KOs in 68 fights and 64 victories. The sixth round should have been the end. Early in the round, the powerful Ukranian hit Joshua with a massive right hand, spilling his mouthpiece.

    The UK Guardian exclaimed: “Joshua in serious trouble! Oh dear. Joshua looks exhausted. He’s taking shots that he sees coming. Too tired to move out of the line of fire. No legs, breathing through his mouth heavily. Now he digs deep at the end of the round but it’s surely too little too late.”

    Klitschko had the moment to finish off Joshua, he didn’t and the rest is history.

    3. Fight rustiness

    Klitschko’s last fight was against Tyson Fury on 28 November 2015, losing his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, The Ring, and lineal heavyweight titles. After two botched rematches between the two, Fury was forced to vacate the WBA (Unified), WBO, IBO heavyweight titles.

    After 18 months of inactivity, the 41-year-old stepped into the ring against a younger man who last fought in December 2016.

    4. Joshua wanted it more

    The scary thing is that he’s only just getting started; in many ways this was Joshua’s coming of age fight.

    He will go on to dominate the sporting hemisphere for the next five, 10, possibly 15 years, such is his talent.

    And it was Saturday night, the moment when it all changed. The prospect became the champion, the lad from Watford became the ruler of his sport, the prince became the king.

    Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko show eachother respect after the IBF, WBA and IBO Heavyweight World Title bout at Wembley Stadium on April 29, 2017 in London, England.

    Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko show eachother respect after the IBF, WBA and IBO Heavyweight World Title bout at Wembley Stadium on April 29, 2017 in London, England.Getty Images