Deontay Wilder manager Shelly Finkel RULES OUT Anthony Joshua fight next and says they will revisit AJ in 2020
It’s not good news for fans hoping to see the undisputed title bout
Deontay Wilder’s co-manager Shelly Finkel has stated that his man will not be fighting Anthony Joshua next.
The veteran fight-maker guides the WBC champion’s career and insists they now have their own path that will see them only revisit a potential AJ bout in 2020.
After failed negotiations caused an acrimonious fall-out last year, Wilder and his team were left with a very bitter taste in their mouths towards Joshua’s camp, and this feeling has still not subsided.
Finkel explained to ThaBoxingVoice: “There is a history to the fight with Joshua and until recently they did not want the fight obviously.
“We were willing to fight them for $15million flat and fight them in the UK, but they gave every story and didn’t fight us.
“The night I had to tell Deontay they were fighting Povetkin instead, he was so emotional I felt terrible having to break that news to him.
“Before, there were no options for Deontay and the best route was to fight Joshua.
“When we realised that couldn’t happen, we ended up fighting Tyson Fury and that was one of the fights of the year in 2018.
“We’re fighting our mandatory now and we have a pretty full plate for this year and we will discuss fighting Joshua next year.”
When asked if the Joshua vs Wilder fight wasn’t happening because a Wilder vs Tyson Fury rematch was on the cards, he added: “We’re not fighting Joshua next, but it’s not for reasons that the Fury fight can be locked in soon.”
On May 18, Wilder will defend his belt against mandatory challenger Dominic Breazeale.
It was hoped that after this defence talks could restart with AJ’s representatives, however the Brit’s promoter Eddie Hearn last week revealed that he’d heard rumours the American was instead lining up other bouts with Luis Ortiz and Adam Kownacki.
Upon being quizzed about these potential bouts: Finkel replied: “They are all in the works, there is nothing confirmed at this point.
“The only thing that is locked in is the fight with Breazeale on May 18.
“If everything goes the way we hope it will, we will then discuss his next fight and lock that in.”
In the early stages of 2019, Wilder’s team entered discussions with John Skipper of DAZN (Joshua’s US broadcaster).
They ultimately rejected a $100million+ multi-fight deal to join the platform, but Finkel is optimistic this bridge will continue to be built upon and prove when they do come to make the undisputed title bout.
“Yes, I have spoken with John Skipper more than once. Actually, him and I are developing a very good relationship. I’m very fond of him.
“They will continue and eventually it will lead to a fight of Deontay and Joshua.”
https://talksport.com/sport/boxing/5...ua-fight-next/
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