Nobody saw this coming! Nevertheless, it happened–Deontay Wilder suffered a lopsided defeat at the hands of Joseph Parker in Riyadh last night. Meanwhile, the boxing community possibly missed out on one of the biggest fights that could have been. Prior to Wilder’s defeat, a fight against Anthony Joshua was virtually in the bag. However, Dave Coldwell hasn’t given up on it yet!
After Wilder’s loss yesterday, even Eddie Hearn spoke on the matter, officially declaring Wilder is not the future. So, the March 9 fight is, for all intents and purposes, canceled. But the boxing world had their hopes up already. The same sentiment was shared by Sky Sports’ boxing analyst and former professional boxer, Dave Coldwell, as he urged promoters to facilitate the fights that people want to see like the Joshua and Wilder clash.
Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder: Dave Coldwell asks promoters to stop!
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
In response to the cancellation of Wilder vs. Joshua, Coldwell turned to X (formerly Twitter), claiming if people are talking about and want the fight, it’s better to make it happen. He went on to ask promoters to stop trying to bump up the prices by creating more drama and anticipation. Coldwell added if the pair-up is good, it will be a success.
When a fight is hot.
Make the fucking fight!
Fighters and promoters stop trying to bump up the price, stop trying to make it even bigger – if it’s a good fight do the rematch and that will be bigger.AJ v Wilder Another huge fight we never got to see.
— Dave Coldwell (@davidcoldwell) December 23, 2023
“When a fight is hot. Make the f**king fight! Fighters and promoters stop trying to bump up the price, stop trying to make it even bigger – if it’s a good fight do the rematch and that will be bigger. AJ v Wilder Another huge fight we never got to see,” Coldwell wrote in his tweet. While Coldwell urges promoters to make the fight happen, Joshua’s promoter is eyeing a different opponent.
Eddie Hearn claims Wilder’s loss was a “kick in the n*ts”
With the Wilder fight possibly in the bed, Joshua is looking for a different opponent. Eddie Hearn thinks the number one contender, Filip Hrgovic, for the IBF title, is the best match. What’s more, Oleksandr Usyk will take on Tyson Fury on 17 February next year, and the winner will have to fight an IBF contender or drop the belt in case one of them activates the rematch clause which leaves the title in the hands of Hrgovic.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
According to a tweet from Michael Benson, Hrgovic will definitely fight for the vacated title. So, Hearn is therefore trying to arrange a fight between Joshua and Hrgovic. During Hearn’s interview with iFL TV, he said, “It was a kick in the n*ts. We signed a contract to fight Deontay Wilder.” Later in the interview, Hearn added, “Obviously [Joshua] is in a position to fight for the world title against [Filip] Hrgovic.”
Wilder might have lost his shot at fighting Anthony Joshua, but if it were up to Coldwell, he would make the fight anyway. However, as per Hearn’s comment, the potential fight is formally out of the window.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Which fight would you like to see – Joshua vs. Wilder or Joshua vs. Hrgovic?
Watch This Story: Deontay Wilder branded as ‘Sore Loser’