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Anthony Joshua, who will face Andy Ruiz Jr this weekend

'Probably busy, he's just had his fight' - Joshua understands Wilder's MSG ringside snub

Deontay Wilder was invited to get a glimpse of a fellow champion up close, but will not attend this weekend.

ANTHONY JOSHUA HAS no qualms with Deontay Wilder rejecting the chance to watch his American debut against Andy Ruiz Jr. this weekend.

The Briton will defend his IBF, WBA Super and WBO world heavyweight titles at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday.

Joshua wanted Wilder, the WBC champion, to be at ringside but the ‘Bronze Bomber’ – who scored a first-round knockout over Dominic Breazeale this month – will not be in attendance.

“[He's] probably busy, he’s just had his fight. Just been in his training camp, had his fight, [there's] a lot of pressure on that,” he told IFL TV.

He probably doesn’t want to see a boxing ring for a little while. So, I don’t blame the guy. He’s got his family hasn’t he, he’s got other stuff to do.”

Joshua has thus far been unsuccessful in his desire for a unification bout with Wilder, despite both camps having been involved in protracted negotiations. 

The unbeaten Joshua said he was impressed by Wilder’s knockout of Breazeale, a man he took seven rounds to stop three years ago.

Breazeale Wilder Boxing Deontay Wilder brutally knocked out Dominic Breazeale earlier this month. Frank Franklin II Frank Franklin II

“He’s done a better job, he knocked him out earlier than me,” he added. “He’s a good fighter and that’s why I want to compete with him.”

He jokingly added: “It’s stupid of me, I should’ve taken Breazeale out earlier. I won’t be making that mistake again!

“I could’ve taken him out in the second round, it wasn’t easy, I had him hurt in the second.

Yeah, comparing it, he did a better job, he knocked him out earlier than me so he’s a good fighter, that’s why I want to fight with him.” 

A fight has also failed to materialise between Joshua and domestic rival Tyson Fury, who now looks certain to face Dillian Whyte – himself interested in a rematch with ‘AJ’ – provided they come through respective bouts with Tom Schwarz and Oscar Rivas.

“I think it’s just a bit unnecessary, Fury wants to be a champion, he wants to add that lineal status so he could have fought me,” Joshua said. 

“Dillian could fight me for all the belts but he wants to go a different route so good luck to them. I’ll watch but they haven’t got to go round that route, they can come directly.”

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    Mute Limón Madrugada
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    May 27th 2019, 6:43 PM

    I wouldn’t bet on him playing for Real next season just yet .

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    Mute Claire Con
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    May 27th 2019, 9:29 PM

    @Limón Madrugada: I agree, defiantly not in the league games unless he really seems to prosper. Vinicius I feel was played too often and too fast this season too. He needs to work on his finishing

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    Mute Vinny O'Shaughnessy
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    May 27th 2019, 8:48 PM

    If I was going to start playing for Real Madrid I’d probably be vomiting too. Despicable club with the most ungrateful supporters.

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    Mute Claire Con
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    May 27th 2019, 9:31 PM

    @Vinny O’Shaughnessy: this statement is completely false. Every club has a small number of toxic supporters but that’s just football. Compared to other teams we aren’t too bad. Look at serie-A fans calling black players monkeys and so on. Yes some fans fail to show respect to club legends but that’s a common trait in Spain. Barcelona fans, Atletico fans etc are the same

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    May 27th 2019, 10:07 PM

    @Claire Con: all well and good to point the finger but Real Madrid fans have also racially abused black opposition player, Dembele got it in El Clásico in February. But we both know that the commenter was referring to the amount of abuse and booing Real fans give their own players at the earliest sign of any problem.

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    Mute Limón Madrugada
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    May 27th 2019, 10:41 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: just not true.

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    Mute Kieran Fogarty
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    May 27th 2019, 10:57 PM

    @Claire Con: in fairness he said ungrateful fans

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    Mute Bryn Capstan
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    May 28th 2019, 1:42 AM

    @Vinny O’Shaughnessy: cheap shot. Jealousy no doubt. What’s your club won this decade so far???

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    Mute Claire Con
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    May 28th 2019, 5:24 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: and like I said, unfortunately fans like that exist everywhere. In fairness it isn’t as regular of an occurrence like in Italy (thank God) but unfortunately Spanish fans tend to be aggressive.

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    Mute Claire Con
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    May 28th 2019, 5:25 PM

    @Kieran Fogarty: in fairness he called the club despicable. Not the most accurate comment when you compare the club to others.

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    Mute A Person
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    May 28th 2019, 6:55 PM

    @Claire Con: Mbappe

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    May 29th 2019, 1:19 AM

    @Limón Madrugada: several sources, including Dembele himself.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    May 29th 2019, 2:27 AM

    @Claire Con: except you specifically singled out serie A fans for racism as a defense of Madrid fans. In no way am I saying it’s just Madrid. It’s pretty prevalent in Spain.

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    Mute Claire Con
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    May 29th 2019, 7:18 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: I wasn’t necessarily singling our anyone. I simply mean that this isn’t an irregular occurrence in serie A games. Literally something happens every game.

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