DEONTAY WILDER has been urged by his coach to return against Anthony Joshua, who will be “in trouble if he signs the contract.”
Wilder, 37, knocked out Robert Helenius, 38, in round one of his October comeback fight which followed after a year out.
Deontay Wilder has been urged by his coach to return against Anthony JoshuaGetty
AFPAnthony Joshua is linked with fighting Deontay Wilder[/caption]
But a month earlier, AJ was beaten for the second time on points by Oleksandr Usyk, 35.
Wilder’s coach Malik Scott expects the consecutive losses to ex-cruiserweight Usyk will have a major affect on Joshua’s confidence.
And he warned stepping into the ring against the Bronze Bomber would end painfully quick.
Scott told Kate Abdo: “This is what I do understand. The lack of mental strength might not be there because he lost to a smaller guy.
“To go up against a specimen like Deontay Wilder, you may need to build yourself up to take on that kind of fighter. I get it.
“The advantages and the things I see Deontay doing to whatever AJ shows up, mentally tough, not mentally tough; it’s a three-round fight, in my opinion.
“He can’t get out of the way. Deontay is not a big guy. That is a big guy that punches slowly. It comes fast, and you can’t get out of it.
“If you can’t get out of the way of it, you’re in trouble. And I think AJ is in trouble if he signs the contract.”
Joshua, 33, is expected to return in a confidence-building comeback fight in the spring.
But Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel has kept the door open for talks with AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn following year of failed negotiations.
And Scott is ready to give the green light for his fighter to return straight into a super-fight with Joshua.
He said: “I’m very interested in that. At this level of his career, I would.
“One, the fight was supposed to have been happening, and two, he lost to Oleksandr Usyk two times.
“Three, I also believe Anthony Joshua is a big-time boxer. These guys are not getting old. Let’s get these big fights made.
“I would hate for so much time to go by, and we end up with another Riddick Bowe – Lennox Lewis type of situation.
“These greats didn’t get a chance to fight each other. These types of fights aren’t just good for boxing.
“They’re good for the world, for culture, and for the young kids that want to see this kind of fight.
“So, I just think it should happen, but we can want it all we want. AJ has to want the fight, his team has to want it, and Eddie has to want to do good business.
“Him and Shelly have to connect to make this happen. Otherwise, Deontay is going to do bigger and better things, whatever that may be.”
APDeontay Wilder pictured with his trainer, Malik Scott[/caption]