DEONTAY WILDER has accused Anthony Joshua of avoiding him.
The former heavyweight champions had been due to meet on March 9, had they both won their respective fights on Saturday night.
Joshua, 34, held up his end of the bargain, looking impressive as he dismantled Otto Wallin.
But Wilder, 38, fell to Joseph Parker in a shock loss – leaving his bout with AJ in tatters.
Immediately after his defeat, the Bronze Bomber hinted that he could retire from the sport.
He has since clarified that he’ll be continuing, however, and has even accused Joshua of ducking him.
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Speaking to 78SPORTSTV, Wilder said: “They really don’t want that fight. When I lost, did you see how happy he was coming out?
“He was like, ‘I ain’t gotta fight Wilder’. The rumour was he was talking about retiring if I won… March 9th, the fight still can go on.
“But this is a perfect way for them to get out.”
On his defeat, Wilder added: “My timing was off because of inactivity. I’m disappointed because I know I’m a way better fighter than him.
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“I hurt him a few times, but certain shots I didn’t take. It was hesitation and I couldn’t understand why… He has no business beating me at all, not even on a magnificent day for him.
“He didn’t do nothing, neither of us really did anything.”
Joshua, meanwhile, is targeting becoming a three-time world champion on March 9.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk meet for the undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO heavyweight crown in Saudi on February 17, with AJ set to be in attendance.
The IBF will then order the winner to face mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic.
Both men could relinquish that belt in favour of a rematch, opening the door for Joshua to fight Hrgovic for the vacant title.
On the prospect, Joshua declared: “If it’s a fight for the heavyweight championship of the world or fight a big-name opponent, I will always choose the former because that’s the creme de la creme.
“It’s the most prestigious title you can win.
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“I will try to come out again for Fury and Usyk, I tend not to go to fights, but that’s an iconic one.
“Once that fight is out of the way, then the heavyweight division opens up again and we can start leaning toward becoming champions.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
