The stage is now potentially in line - if both sides can reach a deal.
Anthony Joshua moved a step closer to fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship Saturday after beating New Zealander Joseph Parker on a unanimous points decision in their title unification bout.
The 2012 Olympic champion, taken to 12 rounds for the first time in his professional career after 20 previous knockouts, added Parker's WBO belt to his own WBA Super, IBF and IBO titles.
The three judges scored it 118-110, 118-110 and 119-109 to Joshua, leaving only Deontay Wilder's WBC title still to conquer.
"Wilder. Let's go baby, let's go," shouted Joshua from inside the ring to raucous cheers from the 78,000 crowd packing Cardiff's Principality Stadium, also name checking Tyson Fury as another possible opponent.
"Do I want to become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world? IBO, WBO, IBF, WBA...I'm not into the hype, I'm about business. So let's get the business done.
"Let's see what the future holds, I'm down for whatever, whenever," added the Briton, ** clear he wanted Wilder to face him in Britain rather than Las Vegas.
Wilder was not among those present, despite being invited by organisers, the undefeated champion opting to watch from afar instead.
But he took to social media to respond to Joshua's statements.
"Let’s make this fight happen, my people have been waiting,’ said Wilder.
"We’re on the same court, you never heard me say something and my team say something else. We’re always on the same page. On the other hand you know [Eddie] Hearn and Joshua, their stuff is always unbalanced, they say one thing, they say it’s another.
"Let’s make this fight happen, they are calling me out? That’s it, let’s make it happen. You [Joshua] should have just said you plead the fifth [amendment] when they asked about me. It’s been a long time coming, a long time waiting for me. The time has come, you said you want me, let’s make it happen, I can’t wait."
2023-10-20 17:37:46
