ANTHONY JOSHUA is NOT in talks to fight Deontay Wilder, despite his claims he is, according to Frank Warren.
The boxing promoter, responsible for thrashing out negotiations for Tyson Fury, insists that his opposite number in the Wilder camp has poured water on AJ’s assertions.
Warren is confident Joshua is not on the verge of agreeing a deal with WilderCredit: Reuters
AJ claimed a comeback win over Ruiz Jr in DecemberCredit: PA:Press Association
Meetings between the Bronze Bomber and Joshua’s people were supposedly accelerating towards an offer being made to arrange a fight.
The Brit is keen to unify the division having reclaimed his three world title belts from Andy Ruiz Jr last month.
But Warren has purportedly been told by Wilder’s co-manager Shelly Finkel that no talks are on the cards.
The 67-year-old said to ESPN: “I spoke to Shelly Finkel yesterday and he denied it.
“There’s a rematch clause in the contract and the loser has the right to invoke that not long after the fight. That will determine what happens, not what Eddie Hearn or Joshua says.
“It seems every time they mention these discussions they never think about the possibility of Tyson winning the fight with Wilder.”
FINK AGAIN
In addition, Finkel himself has poured water on any offer before the Fury-Wilder rematch.
He told World Boxing News: “I don’t know what Anthony Joshua is talking about.
“We are not interested in any offer. Deontay’s and our focus is on Tyson Fury. At this moment, we are not focusing on anything else.”
Kubrat Pulev is the favourite to take on Joshua next as the mandatory IBF title challenger and the body have extended the deadline for the pair to agree a fight.
But it is a match-up with Wilder that the 30-year-old prizes most.
He told Sky Sports earlier in the week: “We’ve had meetings. That same meeting with Usyk’s manager, afterwards we had another meeting to potentially put an offer in to solidify [fighting Wilder] before they have even had their fight, and before I have my next fight.
“It is a great boxing match. We had a meeting about that.
“It has great potential. I heard [Wilder and Fury] have a third fight lined up towards the end of the year but we have to throw a curveball in there.”
Andy Ruiz Jr breaks into a sweat as he gets back into training after Anthony Joshua loss
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
