DEONTAY WILDER detected “nervous” energy from Anthony Joshua when they were stood next to each other.
The former WBC and unified heavyweight champions met for the first time last month at a press conference to promote this weekend’s short-notice Saudi extravaganza.
Despite their public back and forths down the years, both men – who are on course for a March melee if they get through their respective bouts – were extremely cordial with one another and shook hands.
But Wilder sensed something was off with AJ, telling Instant Casino: “For me, he was all nervous.
“Nerves when it comes to me, because they don’t know how I am.
“They don’t know how I am in different situations, so when I came in that relaxed manner it really shocked him. And it shocked a lot of people.”
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Wilder and Joshua must get through their respective bouts with Joseph Parker and Otto Wallin this weekend to preserve their March 9 showdown.
And the American will be rooting for his long-time rival to do the business against the Swedish slugger.
He said: “I wish the best for AJ, but it’s been a long time coming between me and him; the anticipation, the hype, this is the number one fight in the world.
“Everywhere I go, that’s the main fight people ask me about and one day soon it will finally happen after all these years of trying over and over again.
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“Recently their side admitted they held this fight up; not taking the $50M, lowballing me, flat fees and all that stuff.
“But with patience and time the truth shall reveal itself and it has.
“He’s got to get Wallin out the way and I’ve got to get Parker out the way and may God be with us in those fights and when we come out safe we let the big games begin.”
Should the fight with AJ fail to come to fruition, Wilder will turn his attention to a clash with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
He told talkSPORT: “It is going to be one or the other, it could be [both Joshua and Ngannou in 2024], but I think it is going to be one or the other.
“It can happen that way where I see both of them, but I know for sure that I am going to get one of them, I know that for sure.
“So, the future is bright and I’m looking forward to [fighting] whoever I get into the ring with, whether that is both or one, I am grateful for it all.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
