Deontay Wilder (pictured) expressed disappointment in Anthony Joshua's decision to fight Alexander Povetkin before a potential unification bout.GETTY IMAGES
WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder branded Anthony Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, "cowards," according to the BBC. On Tuesday, it emerged Joshua had been ordered by the WBA to agree to a deal to face Russia's Alexander Povetkin. The move means any bout between Joshua -- who also holds the IBF and WBO belts -- and Wilder, "looks set to be delayed." In an "expletive-laden tweet," Wilder said, "You're not a true champion‼️ You're just a weak minded coward that's holding hard metal. #Facts." Any bout between Joshua, 28, and Wilder, 32, would result in the winner becoming the first man in history to hold all four heavyweight world titles. It would also "prove to be one of the most lucrative in the sport's history" (BBC, 6/26).
'NOT DESPERATE': In Brisbane, Grantlee Kieza reported boxer Anthony Mundine is "set to hit Jeff Horn right between the eyes on Saturday with a multi-million-dollar offer" for a "State of Origin" superfight at Suncorp Stadium in November. Mundine predicts the bout will pay each man at least A$4M ($2.95M) in a 50/50 split and said that it "has the potential to top the 200,000 pay-per-view sales generated by his victory over Danny Green" in '06. But negotiations are "on a knife edge," with Mundine warning he would pull out of talks in Brisbane if he was "disrespected in any way." Mundine: "I'm not desperate for the fight. I don't need the money, but I would love the challenge" (COURIER-MAIL, 6/27).
