Deontay Wilder: “I deserve the main event over Anthony Joshua, I guarantee knockouts”
Deontay Wilder (43-2-1, 42KO) is preparing to meet Joseph Parker (33-3, 23KO) on December 23rd in Saudi Arabia.
The bumper “Day of Reckoning” card on the eve of Christmas Eve pits Wilder against Parker and Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin on the condition that Wilder and AJ both win to set up their long-awaited showdown in 2024.
Speaking to Instant Casinos, “The Bronze Bomber” warned Parker about what will happen if he tries to walk him down, how AJ appeared nervous when they finally met in London, and also gave his views on the Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury undisputed clash in February next year.
It will be dangerous for Joseph Parker if he tries to walk me down
“If Joseph Parker tries to walk me down, there's two words for that: Robert Helenius. We knew each other very well, but my style had changed a bit from when we sparred, he wasn't used to me being a mover. He was used to me sitting there, fighting fire with fire. When I switched it up, it knocked him off his game, which caused him to change his game plan up and he started lunging at me, trying to walk me down and the first right hand I threw, it knocked him out.
“If Joseph Parker comes out and fights with fire with fire, he will be playing a dangerous game when it comes to me because of the power I have. Because when I come to punch, I punch through you, not just to you. It will be exciting to see his game plan, but when he feels the power the first time his game plan is going to change. I'm looking forward to knocking him out, we were meant to fight many, many years ago but he ran from me.
“Parker has stated many times he's a new man and new fighter and when we came face to face he looked very confident. He really believed in his words and after feeling his energy, it allowed me to come home to train even harder because I know what I'm up against. That's all a fighter wants from another fighter – that they come and bring his best. Because I'm coming to bring my all, you're looking at a man that's willing to die in the ring at any given time. I've proved that many times and it's not going to stop until the end of my career.”
I’m training to be a killer in my fight camp
“It's a crazy feeling when you change from regular you to a fighter. You go through all this training, all the sparring, and all you're talking about is hitting, and you're causing damage to your sparring partners – overtime it accumulates in your mind – I'm training to be a killer. It changes the mindset. It's a feeling that I enjoy having. It's a crazy feeling to have knowing you're a dangerous man, you're a walking weapon, and in any given moment of time you can bring harm and damage and danger to anyone. My mindset at this moment and time in camp when I'm like this is: I get more aggressive, I get more of an aggressive attitude, I'm easily aggravated, I'm real serious when I'm deep in camp and my mind has changed, knowing I've got a mission to accomplish. I like the adrenaline rush from it. And I'm looking forward to releasing that feeling on the night of the fight. It's not trapped inside and thank god, I don't want to walk around everyday of my life like this. Ready to just whoop someone.”
Anthony Joshua was nervous when he saw me and has lost the respect of the boxing world
“I think I shocked a lot of people when I came with a cool, calm and collected attitude [to the press conference]. But that's me all day. There's a time and place for all things and that wasn't the time and the place to come out with all the 'I’ve been waiting on you AJ' or say something like Jarrell Miller said. I didn't have to say anything, everyone said what needed to be said, especially Jarrell Miller. I can't stand him one bit, but he told the truth about AJ.
“By him saying what he said, enough was said. I didn't need to come to AJ. It seemed like a lot of other guys were already coming at him. It seems like he doesn't have the respect he once had. A lot of the guys coming up disrespect him and say anything to him. And I think that's kind of a frustrating thing for him, to go from one state of mind – everyone respects him – to now losing a few times and everyone now thinks you're very beatable and we can beat you, so we're going to talk trash to you and get to you.
“That's what I got from [being around] him. But for me he was all nervous. Nerves when it comes to me, because they don't know how I am. They don't know how I am in different situations, so when I came in that manner it really shocked him. And it shocked a lot of people. I wish the best for AJ, but it's been a long time coming between me and him; the anticipation, the hype, this is the number one fight in the world.
“Everywhere I go, that's the main fight people ask me about and one day soon it will finally happen after all these years of trying over and over again. Recently their side admitted they held this fight up; not taking the $50M, low balling me, flat fees and all that stuff. But with patience and time the truth shall reveal itself and it has. He's got to get Wallin out the way and I've got to get Parker out the way and may God be with us in those fights and when we come out safe we let the big games begin.”
Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker both bring Jeopardy to AJ mega fight
“Otto Wallin has got a huge chance to upset the fight. Everyone has got a chance, it depends what dog they bring to the fight and how hungry he is on the night, even Parker, he has a great deal of a chance, no matter how hard I hit, or what I possess. He has as much chance as I. Because I still have to perform and bring my training and preparation.”
“What's at stake for me in this fight is reputation, but we have some big plans moving forward. I know a lot of people are anticipating the biggest fight in world boxing between me and Anthony Joshua. That could be on the line in this fight. That's the biggest thing of all on the line. Because I want to go into that with a win and I also want him to come into this fight with a win. Because it will make that fight much bigger than if either one of us were to lose. That might jeopardise the fight and lose the interest of that fans. But I don't want to worry about that, my focus is solely on Joseph Parker.”
I deserve the main event over Anthony Joshua, I guarantee knockouts!
“I feel I should be the main event. It hasn't been decided yet who will be the main event, but it will be sorted out soon. Another reason we deserve it is because me and Joseph Parker are former world champions, so why would you not have two former champions as the main event? And then you've got the other reasons; the excitement, the explosive knockout power. When people get dressed up and come out they want to see heavyweight knockouts. And what other heavyweight out there can guarantee a knockout other than Deontay Wilder? It all makes sense for me to be the main event.
“But we'll see what happens, whether I'm the main event or co-main, it's going to be a hell of a night and card. This card is stacked and packed with great fighters, but when it comes to dramatic knockouts that leave people with memories to last forever, that's Deontay Wilder all night.”
Usyk vs Fury is a 50/50 fight
“It's a 50-50 fight, anything can happen. People look at Fury's size as a major advantage but that doesn't necessarily mean nothing because Usyk can stay low to the ground and because Fury's so tall it's going to be difficult to reach down. If Usyk can get in and out real fast, I feel speed could be a major factor. For me it's 50-50 and I'm glad it's finally happening so we get all the belts in one place. That’s going to make it easier for me to fight for the unification of those belts, so I won't have to fight different champions and have champions running away because of what he's seen me do to the last opponent.
“It's been hard for me. I've handed out opportunities but opportunities have never been given to me and that's sad to say that. I could have unified the division four different times in my career, but these fighters would not fight me and put their titles on the line. I definitely want to unify the division, and the faster that happens, the faster I can answer the retirement question. But right now I'm in high spirits, I'm looking forward to the future and I've seen what the future looks like. And I love it. My aura and happiness about boxing has been re-lit because I know what's to come and I'm looking forward to it. Deontay Wilder could be around for a good bit of time until he’s accomplished his goals and then I'm out of here.”
I have proof Tyson Fury cheated in our fight, But God told me victory is not mine
“It isn't so much what I think Fury did, it was what I know he did. But God said ‘victory is not yours, it's his’, so I walk on that path. What I think has helped me a lot with life and what has made me happier – because I have proof of a lot of things [Fury did], you understand me? But that's neither here nor there – but what has helped me on the journey of life is Ayahuasca.
“Ayahuasca has been a beautiful thing. I advise everyone to explore those options of taking Ayahuasca. It has definitely released something in me, a lot of people say that I'm more sensitive to things and happier – and I feel that way ever since leaving Ayahuasca. I feel so much happier and a release of things. It's a beautiful thing. I appreciate the smallest things in life, not saying I didn't before, but I do even more on a wider scale. I'm happier and smiling more and a lot of people get sceptical about Ayahuasca because of certain things and they get frightful, but I always tell people you must overcome your fears because your fears can hold you back from reaching the next level.
“This is the happiest I've ever been. A lot of people assumed I was depressed because they weren't hearing from me. But if you go back in the history of time, when I'm out of boxing I'm MIA. I leave it alone, I go do other things because I'm so talented in so many different ways that I don't spend all my time boxing. I can't. I need multiple incomes, I have eight children, so I must continue to provide service to my greatness; the start of my music career which is going very well and I'm a businessman; I own many properties, I'm building plaza's and hotel condominiums, I have employees. I have a lot going on that doesn't consist of boxing all the time. We can't box all the time.”
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