British Boxer, Anthony Joshua has reacted to claims made by Deontay Wilder’s former promoter that talks over a unification fight with his former employer were always doomed.
Lou DiBella claimed that his attempt to reach an agreement with Anthony Joshua following Wilder’s draw with Tyson Fury in 2018 cost him his job.
Lou DiBella, who co-promoted Wilder until 2018, worked alongside Al Haymon and the Bronze Bomber’s current manager Shelly Finkel.
He told IFL TV: ‘My relationship professionally as a promoter for Deontay Wilder and working with his team ended when I set up the DAZN meeting, which is perverse.
‘What did I do? I tried to talk to everyone in the marketplace and make a best effort to make the most money for a guy that I cared about. ‘Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?’
Responding to the claims made by DiBella, “When the loyalties gone, the truth shall prevail,’ Joshua wrote on his Instagram, alongside a picture of DiBella and Wilder paired with the promoter’s comments. Joshua has always insisted it was Wilder who was ducking a unification clash, while his rival has claimed it was the British heavyweight who refused to negotiate.
Hope of a unification fight in 2020 appeared to be fading with Joshua tied up in mandatories and Wilder and Fury on track to fight twice this year.
But Joshua has breathed new life into the prospect of a undisputed heavyweight champion by claiming he will make an offer to the loser of Wilder-Fury II to step aside from their trilogy fight.
Wilder’s team responded furiously to Joshua’s recent suggestion he held meetings with them, while Frank Warren has warned AJ only a monster offer would be enough to convince the loser to step aside.
Whatever happens with a unification fight, Fury and Wilder are booked to fight again on 22 February, while Joshua is on the verge of agreeing terms with his IBF mandatory Kubrat Pulev.
