Deontay Wilder blasts Anthony Joshua for being a ‘made fighter’ and makes outlandish claim about the Brit’s popularity… ahead of potential 2024 showdown with his heavyweight rival

• Deontay Wilder believes Anthony Joshua has had his success given to him
• He has also questioned the two-time world champion’s popularity
• Will 18-year-old Moses Itauma break Mike Tyson’s record by becoming the youngest ever heavyweight champion? Listen to The Hook

Deontay Wilder has hit out at heavyweight rival Anthony Joshua, claiming the Brit is a ‘made fighter’.

Wilder and Joshua are set to fight Joseph Parker and Otto Wallin respectively in separate bouts on the same Saudi Arabia card on December 23.

Victory for both men could see them finally face each other in 2024, and Wilder has ramped up the war of words with Joshua ahead of their potential meeting, while also making an outlandish claim that the former world champion’s team have manipulated attendances over the years to make their fighter appear more popular than he is.

‘I’ve said it many times before and I’ll say it again, it’s a difference between champions being born and being made,’ Wilder told The Last Stand. 

‘Joshua was made, he was a made fighter. They bought things, they gave him things. Even with certain things, with the arena. “Oh, they sold this”. No, you didn’t sell out nothing. You comped tickets and you resold them.

Deontay Wilder (pictured) believes heavyweight rival Anthony Joshua is a ‘made fighter’ 

He feels Joshua has been ‘given things’ to help his rise to the top of the heavyweight division

Wilder claimed Joshua’s team have manipulated attendances to make him seem more popular

‘I know how the whole game works. I’m behind scenes. I know how things work. You wanted it to seem like it sold out, you put your tickets out there, and you build your own little ticket thing and you buy all your tickets. 

‘Now it seems like you sold out the arena. What you do? All you do is put it back on the market and resell it.

‘It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book, when it comes to the business and now people on the outside looking in, “Oh my God, they sold out faster than Michael f****ng Jackson”. Are you serious? That’s how it is. That’s how the trick is done.’

Wilder has been in the ring for less than a round since being stopped by Tyson Fury for the second time in October 2021.

He recently turned 38, and will be taking on Parker later this month, who is seven years younger and is coming off the back of three straight wins this year.

Wilder is planning to make a statement in his fight later this month against Joseph Parker

But Wilder insists he still has plenty left in the tank, and plans to show it by beating Parker in style.

‘I’m young. I just turned 38 but we have got to understand that I started [boxing] very late. I started at 21,’ he said.

‘I haven’t had much damage on me. I’m still sexy, I still talk very well, I handle business very well. I’m still energetic. I think I’m a seasoned fighter right now. 

‘I’m seasoned right now and a lot of people will see it come December 23rd, what I mean by that.’

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