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Deontay Wilder will be ‘NERVOUS’ if Anthony Joshua fights Dillian Whyte as defeat would ruin plans for Saudi super-fight


DEONTAY WILDER will be watching nervously if Anthony Joshua rematches Dillian Whyte before their proposed Saudi super-fight.

Eddie Hearn revealed he has received an offer from Saudi Arabia’s Skills Challenge entertainment for AJ to face Wilder in December.

Deontay Wilder is in talks to fight Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Anthony Joshua could rematch Dillian WhyteCredit: PA

But the promoter is also negotiating for Joshua to first return on August 12 against Whyte, who be stopped in seven rounds in 2015.

So Wilder admits fears over AJ suffering a slip up and KOing their mega-money showdown in the Middle East.

Speaking to SunSport at PFL’s fight night in Atlanta, he said: “Are you nervous? Everybody’s nervous, we all are.

“I will be, I’ve said before I’m a straight forward, honest guy anyone that knows me knows that.

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“But I am nervous, if he takes a fight. We’ll keep it like that.”

Joshua, 33, suffered consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, 36, which left his career at an impasse.

But he returned with a confidence-building victory in April over 12 rounds against Jermaine Franklin, 29.

It was his first under new coach Derrick James and Hearn wants the two to have one more fight before a blockbuster with the Bronze Bomber.

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And Wilder, 37, said: “I’d advise him to feel whatever his heart allows him to do, I always say follow your heart.

“Don’t go with your mind, I never make decisions with my mind because the mind can get clouded.

“People can throw emotional garage and if you let it sit then you’ll be like, ‘You know what? I ain’t s***. You’re right, they’re right I am what they say.’

“But if you choose with your heart, no matter what you say or what you do, you won’t regret it.”

Wilder has not boxed since knocking out Robert Helenius, 39, in the first round of his October 2022 comeback bout.

So it leaves the American former WBC champion also open to having an interim bout of his own as he prepares to lace up the gloves again.

Wilder said: “I may have a fight before then, we’ll see.

“There’s a lot of things going on but I am in training mode, my mindset and everything about me. Soon I’ll be out in the field, real soon.”

Deontay Wilder knocked out Robert Helenius in his last fightCredit: Getty


Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk


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