Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has claimed he was approached about facing Anthony Joshua prior to his second loss to Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night.
Joshua was beaten via split decision as he took on his Ukrainian counterpart for the second time in Saudi Arabia, following defeat at the Tottneham Hotspur Stadium in September.
Following the bout in Jeddah, Wilder took to social media to reveal an offer was made to him to fight Joshua before the Brit’s third career defeat.
Anthony Joshua suffered a second loss to Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night
Deontay Wilder says he was approached about fighting Joshua prior to the loss to Usyk
He claims the offer was made because Joshua knew he was going to lose to the Ukrainian and would therefore have no chance of setting up an undisputed heavyweight clash with Tyson Fury.
Wilder tweeted: ‘They tried to lock me in for insurance because they knew he wasn’t going to win. This is strictly a business, Not a sport there’s a difference.’
The Bronze Bomber has not boxed since suffering a second loss to Fury in the United States in October 2021.
The Bronze Bomber has not boxed since suffering a second loss to Tyson Fury in October 2021
But he will mark his comeback to the ring when he takes on Finnish boxer Robert Helenius at the Barclays Center in New York on October 15.
Joshua failed to hold back the tears in his post-match press conference as he admitted he ‘wasn’t good enough’ against Usyk.
‘It’s really, really hard for me to say I’m proud of myself. I don’t feel anything, I’m just… I’m upset. Deep, down in my heart,’ Joshua said.
Joshua cried during his post-fight press conference as the Brit was overcome by emotion
The heavyweight boxer then clearly struggled to utter anything else as he covers his face with his hands and is consoled by Eddie Hearn, who is sat just beside him.
‘I tried a different style. Previously in my career what got me through when I was beating people I have been beating… I was beating them off sheer hungry and passion,’ Joshua continued.
‘In the last fight I wanted to compete as a boxer but it wasn’t good enough and tonight wasn’t good enough.’
