Deontay Wilder has told Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury he is the king of heavyweight boxing in America and they will have to beat him to take the throne while also telling them how they can be a success across the pond.
Brit stars Joshua and Fury are plotting to be superstars in the States with big TV backing ahead of their fights across the pond this summer.
But Wilder has warned them it is not easy to make it in the ‘Land of Opportunity’ because boxing is overshadowed by mainstream sports such as American Football, basketball and baseball.
The Alabama knockout artist has only recently risen to prominence despite boasting an unbeaten record of 40 wins and one draw while also being the reigning WBC champion.
Wilder’s dramatic win over Luis Ortiz followed by a controversial draw with Fury in December has helped raise his profile but he warned his heavyweight rivals boxing in America is totally different to the UK.
“America has been wanting a heavyweight king for a very long time, someone they can look up to and be happy about,” said ‘The Bronze Bomber’.
“I give America that pride and joy of having their own superstar and heavyweight champion they can call their own ‘Baddest man on the planet’.
“Since the last few fights, I’ve got the world’s attention like I wanted it. This is just the beginning for Deontay Wilder, the things that I can do from now are incredible.
“Those guys (Joshua and Fury) have a chance. If they do the right things, make the right fights, have the right fights then America will love them.
“But they have to understand that when they come to America it is totally different, our outlook and view is different.
“We like to be cocky, we like to talk old school, we like to see aggressiveness, the fighters fighting the best, they don’t want to see nobody running.
“When these guys come to America, I am the king here. No matter what people say.
“I got a lot of influence here. Everyone in the sport looks up to me because I’m the monster in the heavyweight division. They can’t look over me.
“Those guys coming over I wish them the best but I want to see the best fights happening.”
UK box office star Joshua travels to New York on June 1 to face Brooklyn bruiser Jarrell Miller at Madison Square Garden while Fury is pencilled in to face German Tom Schwarz on June 15 in Las Vegas.
Joshua has the backing of streaming giant DAZN while Fury penned a £80m deal with broadcasting powerhouse ESPN recently.
But Wilder told them they must have big fights or the fans will lose interest.
“They have to be careful what they do here in America,” he added.
“They have to understand that boxing is not our top sport so they could easily get bored of you.
“It’s not like in England when boxing is almost like a second sport.
“These guys will be understanding what I’ve been going through to become a star.
“I had to deal with certain things in boxing with the other sports that are in America because boxing does not get the same attention.”
–boxingscene
