Anthony Joshua: Forget Deontay Wilder, they’ve been doing my head in for so many years | Boxing News

Even Anthony Joshua was tired of the prolonged tussle that led to the delay in what should have been the biggest fight in the heavyweight division.

His name was linked to a fight with another heavy punching former heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder of America. But instead of waiting for that contest to materialize, Joshua will fight Dillian Whyte next month.

He said, “Forget Wilder and them, they’ve been at work in my mind for so many years.” “I really don’t waste my time with time wasters.

“I’m not really going to waste my time waiting for people, chasing people,” he explained. “I’m ready to go down no matter who I fight, I’m still the same.

“Come on. I can fight now, do you know what I’m saying? It’s in your heart.”

“I just want to fight.”

Joshua and Whyte went face-to-face for their first press conference after agreeing to a rematch.

Whyte insisted, “I think this will be an even better fight than the first time.” “It will be a good fight, we still have a lot of hunger in us and I can’t wait to get into it.”

The two were cool when they met in person again but the two British giants have a long-standing rivalry. They boxed as an amateur, a bout that Whyte won, before Joshua got his professional revenge when he defeated Whyte in a tight 2015 British title fight.

Joshua then became the Unified World Heavyweight Champion. He lost his title to Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk and the Ukrainian defeated him for the second time, before Joshua had a consecutive victory over Jermaine Franklin earlier this year.

“Come out of those losses, get the ‘W’,” Joshua said. “Now we are here to bang and roll.

“I don’t really see Dillian as a rival, just another body. He has a lot of hatred for me.

“I just watch myself, worry about my lane.”

White has struggled at a high level since his loss to Joshua, although a world title shot eluded him. Tyson Fury took on Whyte when he dispatched him in six rounds at Wembley Stadium in 2022.

Whyte returned to pin Franklin on a majority decision and the two Londoners would revisit the scene of their last fight, the O2 Arena, when they boxed again on 12 August.

White said, “I’m always ready for a fight.” “We’ve both been through a lot but we’re still looking for improvement.

“I’m coming to fight and I’ve got nothing to lose, so I’m all right.

“I have the power to knock anyone out. But I am focused on getting the win.”

Likewise, Joshua was unwilling to threaten the knockout.

“I’m more focused on my performance than how I’m going to end the fight,” the former champion said.

“A big night for my career. Winning, 100 percent that’s my goal, that’s my plan, that’s my motivation.”