WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder says he wants a big 2017. Currently still out of action healing after injuring his hand and biceps during his summer fight with Chris Arreola, Wilder tells Sky Sports how he wants to “take risks” next year. Wilder also stated how he wants to “come back with a bang” next year.
And “The Bronze Bomber” feels that he and IBF champ Anthony Joshua meeting in a ring would produce such a bang. Wilder says Joshua’s upcoming defence against Eric Molina is “build-up” to a fight with him.
“This is the build-up, if he is able to get the job done, to a unification fight,” Wilder said of Joshua-Molina. “If he comes victorious, everyone wants to see him fight the man. And I am the man. No matter what people say, I am the man, especially in America. [Joshua against Molina] is good for the viewers of America. This fight will get a few more Americans on tune with who Joshua is. 2017 will be a beautiful year. Our goal is to unify the division so we need others that want to put their title on the line. 2017 is all about risk-taking and I think it’s going to happen. I want to come back with a bang and unify the division with somebody.”
Joshua of course has (after he’s dealt with Molina) that massive fight with Wladimir Klitschko on the horizon, while Wilder must defend against the winner of the ordered Alexander Povetkin-Bermane Stiverne clash for the interim WBC belt. But after these two fights have taken place, why not Wilder Vs. Joshua? Assuming both men are able to keep their unbeaten records and their titles, a fight between the two would be huge. With Tyson Fury gone (who knows if he’s gone for good or not) Joshua-Wilder is, in the opinion of many fight fans, the best, most exciting heavyweight title fight that can be made.
Joshua has a whole lot riding on his next fight, a defence against Molina he simply has to win. If AJ can come through safely in defence number-two, and if Wilder is back to 100-percent and fully fit, we could have a great heavyweight unification fight next year. And as has been said before by Showtime (with whom AJ has a TV deal) – Wilder-Joshua should take place in Las Vegas. Just like all the big heavyweight fights once did.
