Wilder has claimed he heard a "rumour" AJ would have ended his illustrious career had he added Parker's name to his list of victims.

He told 78SPORTSTV: "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.”

And Wilder has a theory for why Hearn is touting other opponents for the Watford warrior.

He said: “They really don’t want that fight. When I lost, did you see how happy he was coming out?

"I broke out laughing, I said, ‘he's happy as f***."

"I made him able to perform like that. He was like, ‘I ain’t gotta fight Wilder.’"

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/25191...ht-retirement/