Ready to unify heavyweight titles, Deontay Wilder calls out Anthony Joshua
WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder is ready to become the undisputed world heavyweight king, calling out world-unified champion Anthony Joshua and WBO champion Joseph Parker
Undisputed world heavyweight champion doesn’t have the same ring to it as it once did. When I hear the word “undisputed” in heavyweight boxing, I think about the baddest man on the planet, “Iron” Mike Tyson. Undefeated and knocking opponents out before you can finish your first beer, Tyson to this day has sold more Pay Per View fights than any other heavyweight in history.
Everyone watched the big boys battle it out in the ring as if they were gladiators in ancient Rome. In the summer of 2002, “Iron” Mike faced the undisputed world champion Lennox Lewis in a highly anticipated fight which sold close to two million PPVs.
Then for many years, crickets….
With the rise in popularity of The Ultimate Fighting Championship, combined with the lack of talent in the sport’s most-prized division, heavyweight boxing has been at its lowest point. It was years before the Klitschko brother’s restored order and started collecting belts from different champions whose names are difficult to remember. In 2011, boxing had once again crowned its heavyweight king when Wladimir Klitschko beat WBA (Super) heavyweight champion David Haye to become undisputed heavyweight champ. But with the lack of major competition, it was difficult for Klitschko to get any respect. The good news however, was that young talent was beginning to emerge, especially from the Olympic games of 2008 and 2012. Boxing enthusiasts began speculating which prospects would have the brightest future and hope was restored to the division that brought us one of the most recognized name in sports history, Muhammad Ali.
2008 Olympic bronze medalist Deontay Wilder was one of those prospects. The American amassed a very impressive 32-fight win streak and became the WBC heavyweight champion after defeating Bermane Stiverne at The MGM Grand Garden Arena on Jan. 17, 2015. Now, with champion vs. champion possibilities, casual fans began paying attention to the big men once again kickstarting a wave of interest back to the damaged division.
Not soon after, Britain’s own heavyweight sensation Anthony Joshua exploded onto the boxing scene. Gold Medal winner at the 2012 Olympic Games, Joshua had been victorious in his first 15 professional bouts before earned his first world title, defeating IBF world champion Charles Martin in April of 2016. Earlier this year, Anthony Joshua (19-0-0) made headline news by defeating former HW king Wladimir Klitschko via TKO in the 11th round in front of 90,000 fans at Wembly Stadium in London, England. Fighting for the vacant WBA (Super) and IBO titles, Joshua became the first undefeated world heavyweight champion to unify three major belts since Mike Tyson.
Now is the time to bring back honor to the most prestige title in combat sports history, Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion, and Deontay Wilder is ready to find out who it’s going to be. Taking to his official Twitter account, “The Bronze Bomber” called out the remaining champions Joshua and WBO title holder Joseph Parker.
https://twitter.com/BronzeBomber/status/866055700249665536
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With Anthony Joshua possibly tied up in a rematch with Klitschko, the scenario may be for Wilder (38-0) to face his WBO foe first. The New Zealander is coming off his first title defense victory winning by unanimous decision against Razvan Cojanu but has yet to face any world-class competition. If Deontay can capture the WBO crown and Joshua gets past his rematch in another action-packed crowd pleaser, his popularity may rise even more and we may be looking at history. Two unified world heavyweight champions, five major belts, fighting for one title. Undisputed World Boxing Heavyweight Champion.