Deontay Wilder: "Anthony Joshua fight needs to be staged in America"

[Ruthless-RKO]

Deontay Wilder says Anthony Joshua should travel to America for a world title unification clash instead of a showdown at Wembley Stadium.

Wilder was part of the 90,000 crowd that watched Joshua's dramatic stoppage of Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in April, but says 'AJ' is yet to make his name in the US and should come to his home country if he wants to become a worldwide star.

"To be global, you've got to make your name in America and Joshua is not as big as people think he is over here," Wilder exclusively told Sky Sports.

"The UK is about the size of Texas. One state in my country, where people don't know who Joshua is for real.

"If my name was brought up and Joshua came along it's the same as if Joshua's name came up, my name would come along.

"It will be a great fight, but he is not that popular over here. I had to burst a lot of people's bubble but he's not.

"If he wants to be global, he needs to come to America to fight me, but to be honest, I don't care where it happens."

'The Bronze Bomber', who has knocked out all but one of his 38 opponents, insists he is far from intimidated by Joshua, suggesting his British rival and promoter Eddie Hearn are "scared" of him.

Wilder said: "Even Eddie Hearn says his man will knock me out in three, so why haven't you made the fight yet?

"If you are so confident, why are you stalling? Why do you stare at me when you're with your friends, look up and down, sizing me up? Because you're scared.

"Everybody is scared. I will unify the division and it will be very soon."

[Ruthless-RKO]

He's kinda right in some of what he is saying.. But he knows he'll make much more money in the UK on Box Office. We all saw him getting bum thrills at Wembley this year.

[Ossyrules]

If wilder was some kind of attraction I’d agree. But he’s not. America is t what it was. I’d say it’s a bigger event in England

[KiwiRider]

AJ needs to make his name in the US?
Wilder needs to make his name in the US.
What was the crowd at his last fight?
14,000?
Parker gets more than that in a country with a total population 1/3rd of New York

[Ruthless-RKO]

If wilder was some kind of attraction I’d agree. But he’s not. America is t what it was. I’d say it’s a bigger event in England

Wilder should have made better defences of his world title, instead of fighting in his home state all the time. He should have gone out to Vegas, or fought at the Barclays more than once.

Then he would have gotten more exposure, especially fighting better names. I'm speaking about this as if it were before the Povetkin shiz. He tried to hard to keep his title. There are no big names HW's in the USA that he could fight. He probably regrets his title reign a little bit, especially had he know he would be fighting a big name.

Also, fans in the UK know Wilder from when he threw his sledgehammers at Audley Harrison back in 2013. I think eventually AJ will fight more often in the USA, the reason why Hearn has gone over.

[Ossyrules]

If wilder was some kind of attraction I’d agree. But he’s not. America is t what it was. I’d say it’s a bigger event in England

Wilder should have made better defences of his world title, instead of fighting in his home state all the time. He should have gone out to Vegas, or fought at the Barclays more than once.

Then he would have gotten more exposure, especially fighting better names. I'm speaking about this as if it were before the Povetkin shiz. He tried to hard to keep his title. There are no big names HW's in the USA that he could fight. He probably regrets his title reign a little bit, especially had he know he would be fighting a big name.

Also, fans in the UK know Wilder from when he threw his sledgehammers at Audley Harrison back in 2013. I think eventually AJ will fight more often in the USA, the reason why Hearn has gone over.

Yeah he could have done more to make that option more attractive. I just question a bit the whole, you need to come and do it in America to prove yourself, these days.

I think Hearn wants Joshua to be big in America though. He wants him to be a world icon I think. I think a lot of Hearns activity over there is also just trying to expand matchroom

[keirw]

If a venue in the US guarantees a higher revenue than UK, then it will take place in the US.
However, I'm not sure there is a venue in the world that that would be a more lucrative option for this fight than Wembley.

[dirk2686]

The American heavyweight scene is a pile of shite. Wilder as has been said draws crowds less than a quarter of those Joshua does, and in a nation of 300m+ he does fewer PPV buys than AJ in a place with a fifth the population. He's also got more belts and more claim to be the best by virtue of the Wlad win.

Struggling to see why Joshua would bother. He can do more money here as well.

[keirw]

The American heavyweight scene is a pile of shite. Wilder as has been said draws crowds less than a quarter of those Joshua does, and in a nation of 300m+ he does fewer PPV buys than AJ in a place with a fifth the population. He's also got more belts and more claim to be the best by virtue of the Wlad win.

Struggling to see why Joshua would bother. He can do more money here as well.

To be fair, sky charges much less for PPV than any US tv company

[Nightmare Roy]

Wilder is talking shite

[Ruthless-RKO]

The American heavyweight scene is a pile of shite. Wilder as has been said draws crowds less than a quarter of those Joshua does, and in a nation of 300m+ he does fewer PPV buys than AJ in a place with a fifth the population. He's also got more belts and more claim to be the best by virtue of the Wlad win.

Struggling to see why Joshua would bother. He can do more money here as well.

To be fair, sky charges much less for PPV than any US tv company

Also Wilder hasn't been on PPV in the USA..

[Oiky]

Na, get it on in the Uk

[leejonesjnr]

There's been a little lost in translation here I think.
Wilder has pointed out how vast America is and that to be a 'global superstar' the USA is an essential territory.
It is slightly amusing that he is saying all this whilst not being that much of a name there himself but he is still correct.
HOWEVER, if that contest were to go ahead it definitely makes significantly more money in the U.K. as Joshua will now fill stadiums with a decent opponent and all future fights will be PPVs.
I'm not certain but I don't think Wilder is selling PPVs yet and if Joshua is as little known as Wilder believes then he won't be the opponent to make that happen.

[asdfjkl]

Joshua should go to Russia to fight Povetkin before Wilder, Povetkin is ranked higher for a reason.
Also, the American vada labs should not be involved, let the job be done by like 5 or 6 other labs from Australia, Russia, China, Argentina, South Africa, and USA. Because the vada lab that works for Wilder obviously makes way too much mistakes.

[kbackup408]

Has Wilder been sparring hard the last few days he's coming out with some bizarre comments.

I understand America has it's lure (bigger market more exposure etc etc) however the buzz is in the UK, Wilder is barely known in America, that isn't an over exaggeration the masses seriously don't have a clue he is...

April 2018 Wembley Stadium for all the belts (minus the WBO) what do you reckon will the American travel?

[nitro5912]

April 2018 for 3/4 belts does wilder travel.

Nope. He won't face AJ outside the states even with the lure of 10m in his sky rocket

[gilgamesh]

If they ever fight in all likelihood the fight will be in England because that's where the money is.

I don't really see Wilder being able to do anything to raise his star power in the U.S., it takes beating a star fighter to truly become one for the most part, and other than A.J. there isn't really another Heavyweight out there that has that kinda star power. I'm not even sure if A.J. has it, but he'd be closer than anyone else by a wide margin.

[BitPlayer]

Maybe so he gets more in return for fighting in the UK.

[brian13]

He will talk crap after his next fight about wanting to fight AJ in the UK. When push comes to shove, he won't leave the states. I think when this fight happens eventually in it will be in Vegas. When was the last time Vegas have had a big heavyweight fight?

[Ruthless-RKO]

He will talk crap after his next fight about wanting to fight AJ in the UK. When push comes to shove, he won't leave the states. I think when this fight happens eventually in it will be in Vegas. When was the last time Vegas have had a big heavyweight fight?

Stiverne vs. Wilder was probably the last HW fight.. even that wasn't a big fight.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

It definitely should be in the UK.

[Lenny]

The fact that Wilder gave these quotes to sky sports tells you a lot. The interest for the fight is in England, as is the money.

[Stuarty]

UK is the home of the heavies now and Wilder would be the B side in a fight with AJ.

[tannervegas]

Inflated sense of his own worth

[Oiky]

Wilders in his own world half the time ain't he