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Deontay Wilder has said he “can’t wait” to face Anthony Joshua in a unifying world heavyweight title fight.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Wilder confirmed that he had turned down a lucrative $100m+ three-fight deal from streaming service DAZN – to which Joshua is attached – and would face his mandatory challenger Dominic Breazeale on rival broadcaster Showtime.
The move adds another blockade to the convoluted heavyweight saga which sees Wilder, Joshua and Tyson Fury all attached to separate US networks.
However, the undefeated 33-year-old knockout artist attempted to ease concerns by claiming that with “cooperation” between his and Joshua’s camp, an agreement to see the two champions battle for all the recognised belts could be reached in the near future.
“We need to see one champion, one face, one name. It takes a lot of people and a lot of cooperation to make that happen,” Wilder said.
Show all 13 1 /13Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 1 Cagey. Very cagey. Joshua probably just edged that one. He held the centre of the ring very well but there was not too much to note about that round really. Concentration all over Joshua's face.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 2 Another really close round. Both men went for a few more shots. Joshua got a couple through the gate and Parker was going for a few body shots. Still very cagey.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 3 The crowd has quietened slightly this round as they look to be given something to cheer about. Joshua twice obliges with shots at Parker up against the ropes. There is an accidental head clash that throws the Briton slightly towards the end of the round that the referee warns both about but Joshua is still on top. Just.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 4 A big left jab from Joshua looked like it hurt Parker briefly there as Joshua holds the centre of the ring and pushed his rival into the ropes. Joshua catches him again with another left hook and a third to finish the round. He's eased into this one but looks comfortable. There is swelling around Parker's left eye now too.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 5 Parker is been hurt by yet another left at the start of this round. He's trying to lure Joshua in and attack but he finally finds success with it. A flurry of punches hurries Joshua into the corner and another shot is landed.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 6 Both men go at it here and swing wildly! They take shots and both land them. The referee breaks it up and the crowd come alive! Parker lands a couple more and he looks dangerous. Joshua needs to stem this momentum from the Kiwi.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 7 A left jab catches Joshua and Parker is a tad stunned. The two lock up and Parker snatches a few body shots which Joshua takes exception to and aims a wild uppercut his way after the referee calls the break. Parker gives AJ a wry smile as the bell rings.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 8 Parker continues to go in low and the referee doesn't like it, but Parker won't like what's coming next as Joshua lands a big left and wraps the Kiwi up against the ropes as he ducks into him. He can't quiet capitalise but he is back on top as the bell brings the round to an end.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 9 Joshua predicted Parker would tire in the ninth or 10th and he could be right. He lands a few shots before complaining about Parker's head use. There is a brief pause as Joshua gets his gloves re-taped after it comes loose and Parker gets a bit lively after, but the bell calls an end to the round just as it starts to spice up.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 10 Parker's been cut above his left eye and Joshua, like a shark, goes straight to work on it. The crowd sense it too but Parker sees it off for now. Joshua has him up against the ropes and swings with a wild left that would have surely ended it there and then. Parker survives.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 11 Only a knockout will do for Parker so expect him to really go for it. But he doesn't really and Joshua keeps him at distance. Parker keeps coming but the two get wrapped up and Joshua lands an uppercut and another jab. A left seems to wobble Parker but a body shot by the Kiwi immediately hurts AJ. A good finish to the round.
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Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round Round 12 Only a knockout will do for Parker. Joshua just needs to survive, keep his distance. A body shot from Joshua wakes up the crowd and another jab draws more cheers but there is nothing more to capitalise on. That’s it, some boos from the crowd as Joshua is taken the distance for the first time in his career.
Reuters
Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker round-by-round It’s a convincing victory for Joshua from all three of our judges, with Luke Brown only giving Parker one round and both Jack Austin and Jack de Menezes handing the New Zealand three. It wasn’t Joshua’s most entertaining fight of his career, or his most dominant, but as wins go that one was pretty regulatory.
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Told that Joshua was eager to take him on, Wilder said: “Oh man, I can’t wait for him either.
“I feel the same way about him (that I do Breazeale).
“Four months of negotiations and they knew they didn’t want the fight. Stop. What more do I have to do for people?
“I’ve tried to show people and I’ll continue to still prove that I am the best. I’ll continue to give people the fights that they want to see. But they got to be in cooperation with my team as well too.
“Because fighters, I understand, they have choices. They have a choice to make whether to get in there with the man, the myth and the legend.
“I am that man that can knock you out, at any given time, any given round, any given minute, any given second.”
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