Deontay Wilder accepts Anthony Joshua challenge for unification fight in UK: Reports

In this file photo taken on March 03, 2018 heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder of the US fights contender Luis Ortiz of Cuba (out of frame) during their WBC heavyweight title fight in New York. (AFP)

LONDON: Deontay Wilder has reportedly accepted Anthony Joshua’s challenge and “is ready to sign and come to the UK to fight this summer” in a unification fight to decide the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, the UK’s Daily Telegraph exclusively revealed on Monday.
The American fighter’s team set to begin immediate negotiations, Wilder’s co-manager Shelly Finkel confirmed after promoter Eddie Hearn stressed the need to get the fight signed for this year.
The WBC world champion fighter is reportedly happy to accept a 60/40 split of the fight purse with the both camps having already discussed a two-fight scenario, with the first contest most likely at Wembley Stadium and the second in Las Vegas or New York.
“We are really glad that Anthony Joshua said for the first time ‘I will fight Deontay next...’ and we believe he is a man of his word. Deontay accepts the challenge,” Finkel told Telegraph Sport.
Joshua was quick to call out Wilder in the ring immediately after defeating Joseph Parker in Cardiff, where he claimed the WBO title to go with his own IBF and WBA belts. Now only American Wilder, the WBC champion who is undefeated in 40 contests, stands in the way of the Briton unifying all the division’s belts for the first time in history.