DEONTAY WILDER CLAIMS a bout with Anthony Joshua is not even remotely on his radar as he instead focuses his attentions on a rematch with Tyson Fury.
The American held on to his WBC heavyweight title in controversial fashion on Saturday after a thrilling contest with Fury in Los Angeles was ruled a draw.
That decision divided opinion among the boxing fraternity and beyond, with many believing Fury to have been ahead on points, despite being knocked down twice by the Bronze Bomber.
Talks of a blockbuster unification bout between Wilder and WBA, WBO and IBF champion Joshua broke down earlier this year, and the Alabama native suggested the Briton has missed his chance.
“They’re throwing up. They didn’t want to see this fight do well,” Wilder told a conference call on Tuesday. “They were trying to downplay it, they want to be the face of global boxing, period.
“They don’t want no one else to be equal to them or to come past them. They want to be the main source that everyone goes to. Well if he wants that to be, he has to be the undisputed, undefeated, unified champion. That’s what I’ve been trying to do.
“He’s got to leave no doubts, with no fighters left out, but they didn’t try to do that, they thought they were better than everyone and now they can look at everyone else talking about everybody except him.
“No one has talked about Joshua in I don’t know how long and we plan to keep it that way. They had their opportunity, they had four months, but they led people on. It could have been me and him, but their ego got the best of them.
“I don’t care what they do. Don’t worry about coming out now, you were already in hiding. Now you want to come out and holler and stuff because nobody’s talking about your stuff no more?
“I don’t even want to answer no more questions about him, it ain’t about him no more, it’s long gone.
“When they finally come around … enough talking about them! I’m excited about Fury, I’m ready for Fury II and I can’t wait.
“The fans have got something to look forward to, they’ve got something to talk about now, and I’m happy.”
He is being very disrespectful. Clearly, he wants to play for England and there is nothing wrong with that. But he shouldn’t abuse his power to pity Ireland.
He is simply calling it as he sees it
The most important thing is to qualify. Missing out when nearly half the continent qualifies will be a huge set back.
If Noble declares and MoN thinks he will strengthen the team then why not.
Just f*ck this guy. Listen we all know there have been Irish players who would have played for England had they been selected but the had the decency and respect to play along. But everything Noble has said since he was linked has been a slap in the face to Ireland. And I would tolerate all his BS if we were getting a Rooney or a Gerrard out of it, but he isn’t fit to lace McCarthy’s boots and is only on a comparable level to dedicated internationals like Whelan or potentially better players like Meyler and Hendrink… So in summation…. F*ck this guy.
Stay with f***ing England. There’s a reason they didn’t pick him. He’s shite.
Think he’s being a bit disrespectful towards us, making it very clear we’re not his first choice. No problem with people declaring for Ireland but this just seems very self serving and doesn’t sit right. Would rather have someone who always wanted to play for Ireland even if they’re not as good
He’s 27 years old and has captained England at U21 level I think everybody knew before this announcement that Ireland was never his first choice..
I know all that but publicly declaring that he’d still prefer to play for England it seems to me that he’s almost using Ireland as a bargaining tool to try and get in the England set up. I’m sure he would give 100% to the cause if he played but it just devalues the integrity of the jersey by continuing to pursue him after these remarks
Again it devalues it when he is 27 and captained England already all he is doing now is being honest.. Anyone who believes he woke up the other morning a feels Irish now and not English needs to wake up…
That’s true I just dont think he had to be so public about it thats all. If I were a young midfielder who’d sat on the bench for a couple of years and saw this guy come in and usurp me I’d be pretty pissed
And there are plenty of lads who would prefer wake up next to Scarlett Johansson but you don’t come right out and say it. If he had any respect for us at all he would keep his mouth shut now he realises England is never going to happen. Robbie never really ‘dreamed’ of playing for all those teams but they were all happy to thinking that he did….
I wish we had young midfielders on the bench for years.. Instead we got players like Green..
No they all laughed at Robbie same as we would at Noble if he said it was his dream..
Johnny wins metaphor of the day with Scarlett Johanson!
Saying “I hadn’t thought about it” I think is bullshit, if he can’t get in to a poor poor England squad maybe he won’t improve us that much, he’s not worth begging for that’s for sure
To be fair Englands Bs are good enough for us but do we want them?
His enthusiasm is overwhelming! Call him up quick.
MON should call him once, play him for two minutes against Gibraltar then never play him again.
He can go and F#%k himself.
I was ok with it until seen this interview now tbh. Saying he hasn’t really even thought much about it is to much . Fans won’t take to him much now I reckon
Then they are fools. We haven’t got the luxury of rejecting any players, except for Connor Sammon.
Conor Sammon could potentially become an Irish Legend but firstly, he has to keep his head down, work hard and showcase his outstanding natural talent and clinical finishing ability for Derby County this season. I’ve no doubt that Roy & Martin are monitoring his situation very closely and will catapult him back into the first team in the not too distant future.
Sammon on a season long loan with Ipswich Town.
I’m only joking. Conor Sammon is not International quality. It’s debatable whether he’s even good enough to play on loan at Ipswich Town. Mick Mc Carthy must be desperately short of strikers at the moment or hasn’t a bean to spend in the transfer market.
Noble my name…. Arsehole by Nature
What a joke. I’d rather lose every game with players that are actually irish than to entertain the possibility of that clown ‘pulling on the green jersey’. He’s an average player that would only hinder the development of young players.. he’s 27.. what would be the point? On any level?
You must have hated Tony Cascarino so. And John Aldridge. And Jason McAteer. And Ray Houghton. And Andy Townsend. And Phill Babb. And John Sheridan
To be honest, if he’s going to dillydally over it for a long time then I don’t want him to represent our country.
Putting on our green jersey isn’t a right, its a privilage given to very few (some undeserved). I wonder does he see it that way?
He’s a decent PL player, which we don’t have too many of. On that basis I would have welcomed him if he wanted to come. It’s totally reasonable to want to play for England if that’s your poison.. But now, perhaps unwittingly, he has completely disrespected the Irish shirt. We’re not going to qualify for every tournament, we’re going to get a bad beating every now and then but Irish football people are very proud and passionate. Love the team as I do, it’s a challenge at times… It’s part of the deal….At a very basic level he has shown himself to be disconnected to what Irish football is all about. Fluttering your eyelashes so publicly at the “Auld Enemy”? Not for me Mark……
This whole thing pretty much sums up the state of Irish football.
Are we really this hard up to have to wait for this pr*** to make his mind up?
On here and on other forums And media I see so much negativity about the players we have. We’ve got Coleman, McCarthy, McGeady, Brady, Hoolahan, Hendrick, Reid (ok, both injured), O’Shea, Long, Gibson, Wilson, Keane (who is still going to score goals for a year or so)…
These guys can’t hold a torch to the Germans but we don’t need to beat Germany. We need to beat Georgia, Scotland and Poland. These guys are good enough to do that, or give it a very good go. O’Neill should (a) not be chasing guys like Noble who show little respect or desire to play for Ireland or (b) be so negative about who he has available and publicly moan that he needs to call on the granny rule. It sounds to me like O’Neill is getting his excuses in early and trying to protect his reputation in the event if failure. Football in Ireland needs support and it doesn’t help when the boss talks this and the next generation down.
The days when British and Irish players populate the best spots in the best teams are so long gone it’s almost nostalgic. We have plenty of players (3 in the Stoke team that beat City yesterday) who can hold their own at a high level. We can field a good XI almost all from the EPL. We should not be already accepting we’re up against it because we’re not. We have good enough players to be competitive against any second or third seed. The first seeds coast home these days, for everyone else it’s game on.
Some positivity Martin.
I was kind of happy to hear about the possible move yesterday but after reading this I’m not sure now.. That’s just disrespectful what he’s saying and I hope O’Neill feels the same.. It’s a pity because would be a good addition for us…
Big Jack told vinny jones to f€€k off some years back when he started the same shite as noble , tell him the same Martin but I doubt you have the balls
No he didn’t. Vinny tried to find out if his grandmother was born in Ireland, even going to the national library of Ireland but couldn’t find any proof, eventually being called up by Wales due to a paternal grandmother. Different to Noble.
hmmm Glenn Whealen in midfield or Mark Noble, no contest there, or maybe we should hold out for Stephen Ireland to finally declare his interest again
Unfortunately this is what we have to do because we have an inadequate system of developing players. If noble improves our squad,then get him in.
How would all the above feel if an Irish man born and bred declared for England. We couldn’t understand it. It’s his birth-rite so for him it’s natural. If he has any bit of him that’s a biteen Irish let it come out and grow. We need players bottom line
Make the noble decision and stick with the English b team. We don’t need any plastic paddies.
That’s not very Noble at all
This is yet another example of a player who wasn’t coached properly as regards what he says to the media. Give him a break – he’s English and probably has dreamed his whole life of playing for England. Nothing wrong with that. The only way the media should ever have got a hold of this would be if he decided to declare for the Republic so shame on all the handlers and advisors behind the scenes also.
Stay dreaming of an English cap mate that will
never come because frankly we are no one’s fallback choice. Either he wants to play or not and clearly the feedback is no. Let’s move on and pick the players who want to wear our green jersey with pride.
Perhaps he should declare for the peoples republic given that’s where his links are. Stephen Ireland can join him.
If his heart isn’t in it, he’s no use to any team. Just like Grealish, I’d tell them to go fcuk
themselves, metaphorically speaking , of course.
Let’s hear it for the England B team
Stay in England Mark……if you dont know by now we dont want you….thanks.
Stay where you are , we’ll b grand.