Anthony Joshua listens closely as Deontay Wilder talks about him at final press conference

21/12/2023 20:37

Anthony Joshua was paying keen attention when Deontay Wilder spoke about him at their final press conference.

Both men were in attendance to talk about their upcoming fights on Saturday night, as Joshua takes on Otto Wallin, while Deontay Wilder fights Joseph Parker.

But, as was inevitable, talk turned to a potential clash between Joshua and Wilder, as they are expected to fight in March next year if they both win their respective bouts.

When Wilder was asked about Joshua, he said: “I see a man that’s been focused on the task that lies at hand, the same as me.

“I’m not in his head so I can’t speak for him, a lot of people have been asking me about his mannerisms, the way he’s been reacting to the media, but I can’t speak for him.

“We’re on the outside looking in and we’ll see.

“He has a big task to complete and I have one as well, so when it’s all over with we can talk about it.

“But, at this moment in time it’s getting close to the fight and we’re both focused on the same task and that’s to win and I’ll leave it at that.”

As Wilder was talking, Joshua could be seen listening attentively as he stared down his potential future opponent from across the table.

AJ has seemed extremely focused all week, seemingly fed up with all the press duties and instead more interested in just getting to fight night.

With that being said, Joshua is also fully aware that the fans want to see him fight Wilder and so that is where a lot of the interest lies, and he has promised it will happen, as he wrote in his Standard column: "I know what people want, I know what I want, that’s no secret – Deontay Wilder.

“We’re sharing the same card finally, although we’re not in the ring at the same time.

“That will come, I promise you. It just takes time.

“I’ve not shied away from the fact I want the Wilder fight. He’s keen, too.

“When two fighters want to get into the ring, it usually happens.”

talkSPORT will bring you live radio commentary as Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder face a ‘Day of Reckoning’ in an historic boxing show in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.