Deontay Wilder is a ‘joke’ for not showing up to Anthony Joshua’s fight against Joseph Parker, blasts Eddie Hearn
Bronze Bomber has pulled out of working for Sky TV on the night but promoter Hearn reckons even if the American was invited into the ring by AJ he would say no because he is afraid
EDDIE HEARN has launched a blistering tirade against Deontay Wilder for pulling out of a planned appearance at Anthony Joshua's fight against Joseph Parker, claiming the Bronze Bomber's "bum's gone".
Wilder was set to work ringside for Sky Sports at the Principality Stadium but has ducked the commitment.
Now Joshua's promoter has laid into the American, 32, saying he is full of "bull****".
And Hearn believes even if Wilder was offered into the ring by AJ following the fight, he would run scared, much like he is doing in their fight negotiations.
Hearn told iFL TV: "He’s [Wilder] getting paid a load of money by Sky to come and work for them this week and his bum’s gone - simple.
"Dillian Whyte’s there. Anthony Joshua’s there. 'I want to get in the ring' - bull**** your bum’s gone, don’t talk about these fights if you’ve got no intention of taking them.
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"You’ve got two fighters that will take his belt, Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte as well and we’ve improved our offer now to Deontay Wilder and if he don’t take this fight he’s a joke.
"I’ve been told he’s not coming, is he mad? Who’s advising him that?
"The whole epicentre of heavyweight boxing and the sport of boxing is in Cardiff on Saturday night but he don’t want to know.
"In life, in business there’s people who talk and there’s people who actually go about their business.
"Joseph Parker is one that talked but was realistic and actually wanted the fight.
"There’s other people in the world who are taking about the fight but the reality is they don’t really want to know unless they get a deal that’s actually no going to happen.
"So forget the bulls*** about all these other people taking about ‘I want Joshua - I’ll fight Joshua,’ don’t talk b******s, you either do or you don’t, we’re dealing with the people that do.
"Wladimir Klitschko, Dillian Whyte, Joseph Parker, these are the people that actually step up and will take the fight."
Hearn says the hype surrounding a showdown between Joshua and WBC champ Wilder would reach "astronomical" levels but fears a clash may not happen.
Joshua vs Parker: Tips and odds ahead of unification bout
ANTHONY JOSHUA has vowed to take his time and pick his shots, while Joseph Parker will be relying to land a big hit, writes Wally Downes Jr.
If AJ adopts his calculated approach, Parker will be on the back foot - but regardless of his tactics we back Joshua to win by stoppage.
And he could select his shots and KO the Kiwi in the later rounds.
But if Parker turns this bout into a scrap, which he needs to do, AJ could land his heavy right hand earlier on.
SUN BETS SIGN-UP OFFER:
- AJ to win by KO -
- AJ rounds 1-3 -
- AJ rounds 7-9 -
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He added: "Are you a joke? You’ve got the entire world media in Cardiff, you’ve got a situation, you’ve got Dillian Whyte ringside, you’ve got Joshua - something’s bound to happen with Deontay Wilder after the fight, to build the fight to astronomical levels.
"And you want to sit on your a** for a so-called fight that you want so bad - don’t give me that bull****, all you’re doing is using Anthony Joshua’s name.
"Your bum’s gone, don’t talk about these fights if you’ve got no intention of taking them.
"You’ve got two fighters that will take his belt, Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte as well and we’ve improved our offer now to Deontay Wilder and if he don’t take this fight he’s a joke."
talkSPORT is the only place you can listen to radio commentary of the huge heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker.
Adam Catterall, Dom McGuinness, John Rawling and Glenn McCrory will be ringside at the Principality Stadium to bring you live coverage from 8pm. Listen on DAB, through Sky Channel 0108 or on talkSPORT.com here.