Home

Boxing

Why Deontay Wilder Should Root for Anthony Joshua Against Tyson Fury

Published 03/03/2021, 7:00 AM EST

Follow Us

via Getty

With each passing week, it looks more likely that Anthony Joshua will face Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight title. Although boxing fans will be excited about the fight, one man finds himself in a sticky situation. Former WBC champion, Deontay Wilder, will be torn between the two fighters.

via Getty

Wilder held the WBC titles for a long time before Tyson Fury beat him last February. Since then, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ has been at a war of words with ‘The Gypsy King’. However, before that, the American made no secret of his dismay at Anthony Joshua. So, who will he root for?

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Unfortunately for Wilder, he will have to back one fighter he doesn’t like. Despite the history between the two fighters, Wilder will have to root for ‘AJ’ and hope the Londoner wins that bout.

The reason for this is pretty simple. Wilder has a better chance of beating the unified champion than the WBC champion. Fury showed his superior boxing IQ and skills and dismantled Wilder. However, Joshua is not as awkward as Fury, and thus, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ would have a better opportunity.

READ: Why Deontay Wilder vs Andy Ruiz Jr. is the Fight to Make

Rooting for Anthony Joshua would be difficult for Deontay Wilder

Backing the Londoner to beat Fury is not as simple as it sounds for the American. This is solely because of the history the pair share. Wilder has never rated ‘AJ’ as a quality boxer and has said he is not among the top heavyweights in the world.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

However, if he has to pick Joshua to beat Fury, he has to admit ‘AJ’ is better than the WBC champion. Moreover, Fury defeated Wilder convincingly, which proved he is a better fighter than Wilder. Therefore, if Wilder backs Joshua, he is all but admitting that ‘AJ’ is better than him.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest Boxing stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Despite that, it would still give him a better chance to become a world champion again. ‘The Gypsy King’ declared that the Wilder chapter is over for him. However, Joshua has unfinished business with the former WBC champion. Thus, he may give him a shot at the titles if he wins.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

What do you make of this situation for Deontay Wilder? Who do you think he should root for?

READ: Is Anthony Joshua the Most Protected Boxer in the World?

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Leonardo Carvalho

1,042Articles

One take at a time

Leonardo Carvalho is a Boxing Writer for EssentiallySports. Before working as a boxing web journalist, Leonardo dabbled in roles ranging from an SEO specialist to a Chegg expert. Alongside his current role, Leonardo runs a YouTube channel where he combines his passion for fitness with sports.
Show More>