In a story that neatly follows on from the article regarding just who WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder – who has been granted the right to take a voluntary defence in light of what happened with his mandatory defence against Alexander Povetkin – will fight next, unbeaten Gerald Washington has revealed how he has cut short a vacation in Hawaii so as to get back in the gym and prepare for what he calls an opportunity he has been waiting for for a long time.
Wilder is expected to fight soon, perhaps by mid-summer, and he can pick any fighter from the WBC’s top-15 heavyweight contenders to make the fourth defence of his title against. Washington, who is currently ranked at number-15, might just get the call he is hoping for. No official decision has been announced yet from Team-Wilder, but Washington, 17-0-1(11) is leaving nothing to chance and he is hopeful that, as a fellow Al Haymon fighter, Wilder will look his way.
“It’s a very good possibility. I have to get ready right now,” Washington said to Sky Sports on the hopes he has of landing a dream shot at the unbeaten KO king. “My determination was not to stay in Hawaii any longer, but get back to work, just in case I do get the call. We’re both with Al Haymon. It’s just a matter of them giving me the call. I’m right here. Bring it on, I would love to take on Wilder. I feel that my athleticism really comes to the fore when I’m up against a big guy, because I’m a lot more agile than a lot of bigger guys. If not, I’m definitely a lot stronger than him.”
Wilder has around seven or eight WBC ranked fighters to choose from, including Washington who is in with a shout. How the fans, or the critics, would react to a Wilder-Washington fight is an interesting point, as the Wilder critics have already moaned and groaned about the choices he and his team have made regarding his first three title defences (Eric Molina, Johann Duhaupas, Artur Szpilka). Washington is big, strong (maybe not stronger than Wilder as he claims, but certainly an impressive physical specimen) and he appears hungry.
Just maybe the 34-year-old who came to pro boxing quite late in life – and is coming off a useful points win over the experienced Eddie Chambers – will prove to be the perfect freebie opponent/challenger for the man with the 36-0(35) record. Is Washington, on paper at least, any worse a challenger than Molina, Duhaupas and Szpilka? This one, if it happens, could prove to be a fun fight while it lasts. And from what he’s saying, Washington will come out throwing punches for as long as he is able.
