ANTHONY JOSHUA has had his say on missing out on a historic showdown with Deontay Wilder.
The pair had a lucrative two-fight deal worth a whopping £100million in place before their respective Saudi showdowns with Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker on Saturday night.
But former WBC heavyweight champion blew their long-overdue showdowns with a lacklustre display against Parker, who won their Riyadh Rumble via unanimous decision.
Joshua didn’t slip on the Swedish banana skin in Wallin, stopping the southpaw in the fifth round of the main event.
And he refused to stick the boot into Wilder, who will no doubt be licking his wounds after blowing the biggest payday of his career.
AJ said: “I was sitting there focusing on myself.
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“I heard Deontay lost but so what, he’ll come backI had to focus.
“After everything Deontay said about me I could rip him apart right now but I am taking the higher ground.”
Joshua, however, refused to close the door on sharing the ring with his long-time rival – whose future is well and truly up in the air.
He said: “He can come back and fight another day – I am sure everyone still wants to see that fight.”
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Joshua was back to slick and sharp self against his former sparring partner, whose face was left battered and bruised.
But he refused to big up his performance, saying: “I can’t rate my performance, my team and fans can do that.
“It wasn’t a throwback fight, just another fight.
“I told everyone in the build-up I had to only focus on Otto, it wasn’t a throwback fight, just another day in the office.
“I just want to be victorious for as long as I can.
“I have been around the blog, I know that hard work pays off.
“Otto is a true warrior, I am sure he would have carried on but his corner saved him for another day.”
AJ’s sights are well and truly set on becoming a three-time heavyweight champion following a successful three-fight career rebuild this year.
He said: “I am searching for greatness, not hopping around and enjoying myself. I am searching for greatness.”
And promoter EddieHearn revealed Filip Hrgovic could be their new target in what they hope will be a vacant world title shot.
Hearn said: “We signed for Wilder, he lost tonight.
“Maybe it’s a blessing because AJ wants to become a three-time heavyweight world champion.
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“It’s gonna be AJ vs Hrgovic for the world title.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
